Fujimori promises more democratic Peru

The president of Peru, Alberto Fujimori, has given a television address to the nation in which he promised what he called a true democratization of the country.

He said his third term in office would not merely be a continuation of his previous government.

Addressing criticism of Sunday's elections, he said the Peruvian people had voted freely and peacefully.

He rejected charges by his main challenger, Alejandro Toledo, and the United States that the vote was rigged.

The US has refused to recognise the result, describing it as a threat to regional stability.

It added that no president emerging from such a flawed process could claim legitimacy. Peruvian electoral authority figures showed that a third of voters spoiled their ballot papers while about a quarter of the valid votes were for Mr Toledo, even though he boycotted the election.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service