Peru's military chiefs pledge obedience

Resigned commanders had endorsed Fujimori's "auto-coup"

Peru's new military chiefs have been sworn in, after their predecessors resigned over links to disgraced former President Alberto Fujimori.

The new army, air force and navy chiefs - Jose Cacho, Miguel Medina and Luis Vargas - vowed to respect civilian authority and rebuild confidence in the ranks.

Their predecessors tendered their resignations after the release of videos showing them endorsing Mr Fujimori's attempt to seize dictatorial powers in 1992.

New air force chief General Medina

The Peruvian Congress has recently been releasing videos filmed by former spy chief Vladimiro Montesinos in March 1999, in which hundreds of officers are shown signing pledges endorsing the so-called "auto-coup".

The commanders say they were forced to sign the endorsement document by Mr Montesinos, who used blackmail in running the armed forces.

Corruption web

General Cacho, who will head the army, had also signed the endorsement, but, because he had a lower rank at the time, it was considered he was forced to sign out of obedience.

Pledging his obedience to the constitution, General Cacho vowed to oversee a new era in Peru's armed forces.

Analysts say Mr Montesinos drew hundreds of officers and officials into a web of corruption, either through promotions or other favours.

The analysts say that the purge of all officers tainted by corruption, which some sectors have called for, would cripple the Peruvian military completely.

High-ranking purge

The resigning commanders were appointed last November as part of a purge of high-ranking officials in the military viewed as remaining loyal to Mr Montesinos and Mr Fujimori even after they had fled the country.

Montesinos built up an all-consuming web of corruption

Interim President Valentin Paniagua said he had accepted the resignations to avoid adding a "new unsettling factor" into the electoral process before a second round of presidential elections gets under way.

Mr Fujimori's 10-year rule ended in November last year after he fled to Japan, amid mounting corruption scandals surrounding Mr Montesinos.

The former intelligence services chief is still on the run. He faces charges of drug-trafficking, arms smuggling, bribery and corruption.