MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Peru's ex-president arrested in Chile

Peru's ex-president Alberto Fujimori, wanted there on human rights abuse and corruption charges, has been arrested during a surprise visit to Chile, according to Peru's foreign minister and Chilean police.

Fujimori, who led Peru from 1990 to 2000, has been a fugitive in his ancestral homeland Japan since he fled there in November 2000, when a corruption scandal toppled his government.

He flew from Japan to Chile on Sunday to try to relaunch his political career and run for president next year.

Peruvian Foreign Minister Oscar Maurtua said in Lima that Fujimori had been arrested by Chilean police and moved from his hotel.

Police picked up Fujimori at the Marriott Hotel in Santiago, and he put up no resistance, police sources said.

"The Chilean courts have just issued an arrest warrant for Alberto Fujimori following a request by Peru ... He's been arrested," Maurtua said in a late night briefing.

"It is my aim to temporarily remain in Chile as part of my efforts to return to Peru and keep my promise to an important part of the Peruvian people who have called on me to be a candidate in the 2006 elections," Fujimori, 67, said in a statement released earlier in Peru and Chile.

Peruvian President Alejandro Toledo called an emergency cabinet meeting to discuss the issue.

Peru was planning to file a suit at the International Court in The Hague this year to try to force Japan to send the former president to Peru for trial. Japan had refused to extradite Fujimori, born in Peru to Japanese immigrants, because he obtained citizenship after moving there in 2000.