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(LIP-jl) -- After months of speculation that former Peruvian President Alberto Fujimori would flee Chile if Chilean officials agreed to extradite him to Peru, a judge has ordered the former leader to house arrest.

The decision to place Fujimori on house comes just one day after a Chilean prosecutor recommended the extradition of the former leader on 10 counts of corruption charges and human rights violations.

Judge Urbano Main, sitting in for Judge Orlando Alvarez, ordered the immediate detention of Fujimori after Peruvian government officials officially requested the the former president be placed under house arrest.

Earlier this year, Fujimori moved to an apartment near the Japanese Embassy in Santiago, further fueling rumors that he would attempt to evade the Chilean justice system if things do not occur as planned

At the time of this report, the whereabouts of the former leader are not known, although various agencies from the Chilean press indicate he is somewhere in the Chilean capital.

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	Peru's Fujimori says he won't flee Chile (by LIP, 8 June, 2007)
	Peru's Fujimori one step closer to extradition (by LIP, 7 June, 2007)
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(LIP-jl) -- Former Peruvian Alberto Fujimori, who yesterday learned that the Chilean Prosecutor's Office recommended his extradition to Peru on 10 counts of corruption charges and human rights violations, reiterated that he will respect the Chilean court's decision and will not flee the country if extradited.

"I am following the instructions and advice of my attorneys and friends and, believe it or not, I am living a completely normal life. I have never thought about fleeing the country. Do you really believe I crossed the entire Pacific Ocean (from Japan) to then escape from Chile?" Fujimori was quoted as stating in Chile's El Mercurio newspaper.

Yesterday afternoon, Chilean prosecutor Monica Maldonado officially delivered her recommendation to Chile's highest court.

Maldonado is in favor of extraditing the former Peruvian leader on charges that include wiretapping, corruption, money laundering, and homicide.

"I cannot make any predictions as to what the outcome will be. That is something I will leave to the Chilean judicial system. However, I do not feel the recommendation was a failure in the scope of the entire case," he said.

Instead the former leader considered yesterday's finding to be 'another transaction' in a long process. "I am calm and at peace," added Fujimori.

Though the prosecutor's recommendation is not binding, it is considered an important step in the right direction for the Peruvian government who requested his extradition when Fujimori surprisingly arrived in Chile in November of 2005.

Peru officially presented Chilean authorities with more than 20 charges to extradite Fujimori, however Maldonado only agreed to support 10 of the charges.

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	Peru's Fujimori one step closer to extradition (by LIP, 7 June, 2007)
	Chile Supreme Court prosecutor to recommend extradition of Peru's Fujimori (by LIP, 7 June, 2007
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(LIP-jl) -- Chilean Supreme Court Prosecutor Monica Maldonado has officially recommended the extradition of Peru's former president, Alberto Fujimori, citing 10 different charges of corruption and human rights violations.

The charges stem from the Barrios Altos and La Cantuta massacres which Peruvian officials say were orchestrated by top Fujimori aids such as former spy chief Vladimiro Montesinos.

Maldonado's finding is an 'unofficial' victory for Peruvian government officials who have fought to extradite Fujimori ever since he surprisingly arrived in Chile more than a year ago.

Although the prosecutor's recommendation is not binding, some believe that it will be a major influential factor when Chilean Supreme Court Judge Orlando Alvarez delivers his verdict, expected to be made sometime during the next few weeks.

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	Chile Supreme Court prosecutor to recommend extradition of Peru's Fujimori (by LIP, Jun 7, 2007)
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(LIP-jl) -- The Chilean Supreme Court Prosecutor's office is expected to deliver its findings on the extradition case against former Peruvian President Alberto Fujimori later today. According to two newspapers in the Chilean media, the outcome of the study will not be to the liking of the former president.

Chilean newspapers El Mercurio and La Tercera claim that Chilean Supreme Court Prosecutor Monica Maldonado will recommend extradition based on human rights violations which occurred in the Barrios Altos (1991) and La Cantuta (1992) massacres during Fujimori's first presidential term.

According to the charges, the massacres were committed by the 'Colina' paramilitary group which was allegedly created by Fujimori and his former presidential adviser/spy chief Valdimiro Montesinos.

Former Colina members have come out of the shadows during the past few weeks to affirm they received orders from 'high Fujimori government authorities' to commit the atrocious crimes.

Though Maldonado's findings may influence Chilean Supreme Court Judge Orlando Alvarez, her recommendation is not binding to the case against the former president.

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	Extradition case of Peru's Fujimori delayed once again (by LIP, 28 May, 2007)
	Extradition of Peru's Fujimori full of setbacks (by LIP, 24 May, 2007)
	Peru's Fujimori says he will accept Chile's decision (by LIP, 14 May, 2007)
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(LIP-jl) -- Peruvian Prime Minister Jorge Del Castillo strongly criticized Peruvian opposition leader and former presidential candidate Ollanta Humala for supporting the controversial shutdown of Venezuela's RCTV television channel and stated that he probably would have done the same had he won the presidency.

"His support of the Venezuelan issue clearly shows that he would have done the same thing had he won last year's presidential election," Del Castillo stated on last night's Peruvian news program Cuarto Poder.

"Had he won the presidency, you two would have been replaced by a pair of retired army captains or commanders," he told the program's hosts.

The prime minister called the closing of RCTV a sign of a dictatorship.

"They close the channel one day and then threaten to close another on the following day. What is next? That is how dictatorships work. This happened recently in Peru (referring to former President Alberto Fujimori), but fortunately for the country, democracy has been reestablished. I hope that never happens in our country again," he said while also mentioning that current President Alan Garcia would never resort to such tactics because of his strong belief in democracy.

"We are democrats. We believe in freedom of expression and our country could never be anything else that doesn't respect it," declared Del Castillo.

Humala, who narrowly lost last year's election to Alan Garcia, has long been linked to Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez and has publicly declared his fondness of the South American president's governing style and ideologies.

(LIP-jl) -- A plan that calls for 'shared sovereignty' of the Peru-Chile border region between Peru, Bolivia, and Chile has caused a firestorm in Chile. Chile's news media has placed the blame on Peru alleging that supports the plan.

Peruvian Chancellor Jose Antonio Garcia Belaunde quickly denied that his agency, or any other Peruvian government agency, came up with the plan that would give Bolivia, one of two South American countries that is not bordered by an ocean , maritime access.

"The truth of the matter is that the Bolivian Ambassor in Lima speculated about various possibilities that would give his country maritime acccess," declared Belaunde to Chilean daily El Mercurio.

Garcia was forced to clarify his position on the matter after El Mercurio alleged that Peru would not have a problem with sharing the border region.

The article caused outrage in Chile and evoked a strong reaction from Chilean political figures.

Alberto Van Klaveren, the Sub-Secretary of Chile's Chancellor's Office, manifested that Chile has not contemplated any plan to share its territory near Arica and that the possibility of 'shared sovereignty' of Arica is 'unfounded speculation.'

(LIP-jl) -- South American Presidents Alan Garcia (Peru) and Rafael Correa (Ecuador) have begun their day long summit in the northern Peruvian city of Tumbes, Peru, which aims to improve bilateral relations between the neighboring countries.

President Garcia received his Ecuadorian counterpart Rafael Correa as his 'brother' and friend' earlier this morning at the Pedro Canga Rodriguez Airport in Tumbes.

According to Garcia, the summit will help both countries grow in the region 'hand-in-hand.'

"We have arrived here full of enthusiasm and expectations to solidify the fraternal relationship between our people. We look forward to writing a new chapter of shared, complimentary, and integral growth. We need to strengthen the trust in our relationship so that rumors or misinterpreted news will not cause any setbacks," stated Garcia.

Meanwhile, the Ecuadorian delegation, which includes several ministerial cabinet members, indicated they are also excited to embark on a new chapter between the Andean nations.

"We are convinced that we are living a new period in Peru-Ecuador relations, in which everything is positive. It is up to us to increase our common investments, cultural contributions, and above all, our trust," stated Correa.

Earlier this week and amid growing rumors, Ecuadorian Chancellor Maria Fernanda Espinosa declared there are no pending border issues between both nations earlier this week.

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	Peru and Ecuador dispel border issues (by LIP, 30 May, 2007)
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(LIP-jl) -- Amid recent rumors that claim there are pending border issues between Ecuador and Peru, Ecuadorian officials quickly dispelled the rumors and stated there are no border problems with its southern neighbor.

According to Ecuador's Chancellor, Maria Fernanda Espinosa, the relationship between both nations will become stronger as a result of the upcoming summit between the Andean nations.

"We have a great relationship with Peru and it will only get stronger during the upcoming bi-national cabinet meetings that will be presided over by the presidents of both nations," manifested Espinosa.

The Ecuadorian diplomat commented that her country has not had any issues with Peru since they signed a peace treaty which ended a border conflict between the nations in 1998.

"Our borders, both land and maritime, have long been established in writing. Additionally, the treaty will also prevent any possible misunderstandings from occurring in the future," she said.

Presidents Alan Garcia (Peru) and Rafael Correa will head meetings that aim to develop the border region shared by both nations.

(LIP-jl) -- Peru's Miss Universe representative, Jimena Elias, lost more than just last night's beauty pageant held in Mexico City. According to the Peruvian daily Peru21, Elias lost the gown she wore during last night's contest.

The gown, which Elias stated is valued at US$4,600, was packed in a suitcase that was accidentally left inside of a taxi by her father.

"I am leaving (Mexico City) tomorrow and I am very worried about this," stated a concerned Elias.

According to the Miss Universe contestant, the gown was accidentally left in a taxi cab when she traveled to her hotel after she was eliminated from last night's contest.

Elias announced that anyone who returns the suitcase to the Camino Real Hotel (where all of the Miss Universe contestants are lodged) will receive a financial reward in exchange for the gown.

Aside from an unspecified financial reward, Elias stated that she will add an autographed photograph of herself as well as a kiss to the person that returns her valuable dress.

Earlier this year, Jimena Elias' selection as Peru's candidate created a storm of controversy as many alleged her father, the owner of a university in Lima and sponsor of the Miss Peru Universe event, had 'influenced' the judges at the event.

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(LIP-jl) -- Colombian officials are mulling over the idea of requesting the extradition of former Peruvian spy chief Vladimiro Montesinos for his role in illicit weapons sales to the Colombian paramilitary group Fuerzas Armadas Revolucionarias de Colombia, better known as the FARC.

Colombian Ambassador to Peru Alvaro Pava Camelo confirmed the idea to Peru's Andina News Agency this past weekend.

"The extradition of Montesinos -who has been locked up in a military prison to the west of Lima- is one of the legal options the Colombian government is playing around with," said Pava.

The ambassador sustained that a possible extradition request should be decided on by Colombian judicial bodies, in addition to the investigations of the thousands of weapons allegedly sold to the Colombian guerrilla group.

In September of last year, a special anti-corruption tribunal sentenced Montesinos to a 20 year prison term for illicit arms trafficking and crimes against national security.