Final rallies ahead of Peru poll

Mr Humala proclaims his love for Peru

Peru's presidential candidates have held their final campaign rallies as opinion polls suggest Sunday's vote is likely to go to a second round.

Thousands cheered as the frontrunner, former army officer Ollanta Humala, addressed a rally in southern Peru.

Mr Humala has support among Peru's poor but his policies have alarmed foreign investors and the United States.

Recent opinion polls suggest his lead over his closest rival, conservative Lourdes Flores, has narrowed.

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A crowd of around 25,000 gathered in Mr Humala's stronghold of Arequipa on Thursday, with some hanging from trees and lampposts to try to see their candidate.

He railed against what he called the "fascist dictatorship of the economically powerful".

"I want to give opportunity to all of the people of Peru," he said.

Mr Humala repeated his promise to collect higher taxes and royalties from multinational companies involved in the extraction of Peru's mineral resources.

"Nationalism is the force that says to multinational companies that don't want to pay royalties and taxes that we're going to renegotiate their contracts," Mr Humala said.

Bitter campaign

Pro-business lawyer and former congresswoman Lourdes Flores wrapped up her campaign in the capital, Lima.

She told the crowd that it was time for a female leader and that she could unify Peru.

Lourdes Flores is hoping to become Peru's first woman president

"I represent authority and determination, order and an honest government. That's my promise," she said.

In what correspondents say was a clear dig at her main rivals, she warned supporters not to "allow improvisation and demagoguery to come back and control our destinies".

Former President Alan Garcia, whose spell in office from 1985-1990 left a legacy of hyperinflation and rebel violence, also finished campaigning in Lima.

He called for the state to play a bigger role in creating jobs to help poor Peruvians.

Peru's economy is thriving but about half the population lives below the poverty line, and crime and unemployment are high.

The campaign has been bitter with insults and accusations flying between the three main candidates, fuelled by a partisan press.

Opinion polls suggest no one is likely to get more than 50% of the vote, which means the top two candidates will battle it out in a run-off vote next round due to be held next month.

One opinion poll has Mr Humala just five points ahead of Mrs Flores, while another has the two in a virtual tie.