Japan wants notified of Fujimori's condition
(Xinhua)
Updated: 2005-11-08 15:18

Japanese Foreign Minister Taro Aso said Tuesday Japan wants to be informed of the condition of former Peruvian President Alberto Fujimori who is under Chilean police's arrest.

Aso told a press conference that Japan will ask the Chilean government to provide information about Fujimori because "he has a Japanese nationality."

He also said Japan will inquire about the possibility of a meeting between Japanese consular representatives and Fujimori.

Fujimori, 67, was arrested by the Chilean police at a hotel in Santiago after arriving Sunday afternoon from Tokyo via Mexico.

Earlier in the day, the Peruvian government made a request to the Chilean Foreign Ministry to arrest and extradite Fujimori.

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.

He is wanted on 21 separate charges ranging from kidnapping to torture and murder of political opponents.

The Japanese government has been reluctant to hand him over to Peru, citing his Japanese citizenship.

The former president said repeatedly he would participate in Peru's coming presidential election in 2006.