Peru Congress votes to charge Fujimori

Mr Fujimori is unlikely to be forced to return to Peru

The Peruvian Congress has voted to charge the disgraced former president, Alberto Fujimori, with abandonment of office.

This paves the way for the attorney-general to file criminal charges with the Supreme Court.

There is a single and undeniable fact: Fujimori left and has not returned

Congressman Daniel Estrada

Mr Fujimori fled to Japan last November after his government became engulfed in a corruption scandal.

The 37-24 vote by Congress bars Mr Fujimori from holding any public office in Peru for 10 years, and if found guilty he could face imprisonment.

The former president, who holds Japanese nationality, has repeatedly said he intends to stay in Japan.

Correspondents say that in the absence of an extradition treaty between the two countries, there is little chance of the Japanese Government forcing him to return to face trial.

'Constitutional violation'

Supporters of Mr Fujimori said that the charges were part of a political vendetta against the former president.

Fujimori's resignation led to widespread celebration

They were "skewed with political vengeance with the purpose of taking Fujimori out of the way so he can never again wield any power", congresswoman Carmen Lozada said.

Presenting the proposed charges to his colleagues, congressman Daniel Estrada was quoted by the French news agency AFP as saying:

"There is a single and undeniable fact: Fujimori left and has not returned."

He added that Mr Fujimori had violated the constitution by failing to report back on the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation forum in Brunei and instead going to Japan.

"The trip ended in Japan with no return leg. Evidently he did not come back, and so he violated the magna carta and the law of the land."

Montesinos inquiry

Mr Fujimori is the subject of six investigations, including allegedly diverting millions of dollars of state funds into secret overseas bank accounts, and drug trafficking.

Montesinos: Congressional inquiry extended

Congress has also voted to extend for another two months a congressional inquiry into Mr Fujimori's former intelligence chief, Vladimiro Montesinos.

Mr Fujimori's downfall was precipitated by the release of a videotape showing Mr Montesinos allegedly bribing an opposition politician.

Mr Montesinos has been in hiding since October.