Peru challenges Fujimori ruling

Mr Fujimori has welcomed a decision not to extradite him to Peru

Peru has formally appealed against a Chilean judge's decision to block the extradition of former Peruvian President Alberto Fujimori.

Peruvian officials said the decision ran counter to a report by Chile's attorney-general backing extradition.

Mr Fujimori has been accused of human rights abuses and corruption by Peru's prosecutors. He denies all the charges.

Still under house arrest in Chile, Mr Fujimori has started campaigning for senate elections in Japan.

'No pressure'

Peruvian anti-corruption prosecutor Carlos Briceno announced the appeal, criticising judge Orlando Alvarez for opposing Chile's Attorney-General Monica Maldonado, who had recommended Mr Fujimori be sent to Peru.

If I signed the ruling, it is because I agree with it and have no doubts about it Chilean judge Orlando Alvarez Readers react to ruling

Mr Alvarez insisted he was not pressured by any government to make his decision blocking the extradition.

He said the evidence presented by the Peruvian authorities was unconvincing.

"If I signed the ruling it is because I agree with it and have no doubts about it," Mr Alvarez said.

The decision must be confirmed by Chile's Supreme Court, which could take up to three months.

Japan campaign

In the meantime, Mr Fujimori, the son of Japanese emigres to Peru, remains under house arrest in the Chilean capital, Santiago.

Mr Fujimori is running for a seat in the Japanese senate

He is also running in senate elections for Japan's opposition People's New Party, a move his critics said was a ploy to avoid extradition from Chile.

"I went through major elections several times in Peru and am aware of situations in Japan," he said as campaigning began on Thursday.

But some have questioned his ability to represent his constituents in Japan.

"I have to wonder what an elected politician can do if he cannot actually engage in any political activities in Japan," a Japanese voter told Kyodo news agency.

President of Peru from 1990 to 2000, Mr Fujimori was praised for reviving the country's collapsing economy and curbing political violence.

But critics accuse him of crushing Peru's democratic institutions and committing human rights abuses.

In 2000, Mr Fujimori became engulfed in a bribery scandal and fled to Japan, which repeatedly refused efforts by Peru to extradite him on charges including directing death squads, illegal phone tapping and corruption.

In November 2005 he returned to Chile, hoping to launch a new bid for the Peruvian presidency in 2006 elections, only to be arrested on the request of Peruvian authorities.

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