Fujimori arrested in Chile upon request from Peruvian government

Chilean police arrested former Peruvian President Alberto Fujimori early on Monday upon a request from the Peruvian government, police said.

Fujimori was arrested at the Marriott Hotel in Santiago after arriving Sunday afternoon from Tokyo via Mexico.

In a statement issued late Saturday, the ex-president said he would "temporarily remain in Chile" before heading back to Peru as a candidate in presidential elections slated for next April.

Fujimori, wanted in Peru on human rights abuse and corruption charges, did not resist the arrest and was held in a police academy, local media reported.

It was unclear whether Fujimori would be extradited to Peru as the decision has not been made by the Chilean court.

The Peruvian government made the request of arresting and extraditing Fujimori to the Chilean Foreign Ministry soon after his arrival in Chile.

Fujimori, born in Peru to Japanese immigrants and was president from 1990 to 2000, fled Peru in November 2000 after a corruption scandal toppled his government.

There was no chance for Fujimori to qualify for a presidential candidate because the parliament has barred him from public office in the next 10 years and Peru's constitutional court has also ruled that he cannot run for presidency, said the head of the constitutional court recently.

Fujimori, who obtained Japanese citizenship in 2000, would face over 20 counts of criminal charges if he returns to Peru.

Source: Xinhua