Fujimori to contest Peru election

Alberto Fujimori believes he can win the April 2006 elections

Peru's ousted President, Alberto Fujimori, has announced that he intends to run for the presidency in 2006.

Mr Fujimori did not say whether he would go back to Peru or would try to contest the April poll from Japan, where he lives in self-imposed exile.

He has repeatedly vowed to return to Peru, where he faces arrest on charges of human rights abuse and corruption.

Mr Fujimori denies any wrongdoing and believes he can win the vote. He was recently given a new Peruvian passport.

Citizenship

Mr Fujimori fled Peru five years ago, after his government was embroiled in a corruption scandal.

Peru has banned him from office until 2010 and has requested his extradition, which has so far been refused by Japan.

The former president has been accused of involvement in the killing of 25 suspected members of the Shining Path guerrilla group by death squads, and also of misusing public funds.

Mr Fujimori was given Japanese citizenship because his parents were originally from Japan.