Fujimori's party allowed to
participate in 2006 presidential
election
Si Cumple," the
party launched by Peru's exiled
former President Alberto
Fujimori in 2003, has formally
been allowed to register at the
National Electoral Tribunal to
participate in the 2006
presidential election, said the
party's chief Friday.
Carlos Orellana, general
secretary of "Si Cumple," or
"Yes, he fulfills promises,"
said the natural presidential
candidate for the party was
Fujimori, who fled to Japan in
2000 amid a corruption scandal.
Orellana, who had been
Fujimori's press secretary from
1990 to 2000 when he ruled Peru,
said the party's registration at
the tribunal was the "first
step" of Fujimori's bid for
presidency next year.
However, Peru's Congress has
issued a statement recently,
saying it was impossible for
Fujimori to be a presidential
candidate because the Congress
had adopted a law in 2001
banning him from holding public
office for 10 years.
In addition, Fujimori, 66, is
facing multiple criminal charges
in Peru. However, Japan has
twice rejected Peru's
extradition requests, arguing
that Japanese law forbids the
extradition of the country's
citizens. Fujimori holds both
Japanese and Peruvian
citizenship.
Venezuela to buy Russian arms
despite US objections
Venezuelan Vice President Jose
Vicente Rangel announced on
Friday that Venezuela will go
ahead with its arms purchase
from Russia despite objections
from the United States.
The vice president said that the
buying of 100,000 Kalashnikov
assault rifles and dozens of
helicopters from Russia "is a
sovereign act by Venezuela that
President Hugo Chavez's
government refuses to debate
over."
"I have the suspicion that if
the purchase was done with the
North Americans, they certainly
would not be so worried," Rangel
added.
Also on Friday, Russia's Foreign
Minister Sergey Lavrov pointed
out that the purchase doesn't
contradict any international
norms or international
obligations of Russia and
Venezuela.
On Thursday, the US State
Department said that it is
"extremely troubled," expressing
its concerns that some Russian
arms might be finally turned
over to leftist rebels in
Venezuela's neighboring
Colombia.
The US government added that the
purchase might have a
"destabilizing effect" on the
hemisphere.
Venezuela has expressed its
interest in buying from Russia
40 military helicopters to
patrol its volatile border with
Colombia, 100,000 automatic
assault rifles and some
anti-missile and anti-tank
weapons.
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Argentine prison riot ends
with all hostages freed
The prison riot in
Argentina's second largest
city Cordoba ended Friday
about 23 hours after 300
inmates seized the
top-security facility and
held at least 42 people
hostage, police said.
The authorities regained
control of the General San
Martin prison in Cordoba,
capital of the Cordoba
province, 700 km west of
Buenos Aires. Eight people
were killed and all hostages
released during the
operation.
"The hostages -- including
guards and visitors -- were
released," Cordoba Police
Chief Jorge Rodriguez
assured. The police also
recovered the firearms
stolen by the rioters.
Cordoba's Attorney General
Gustavo Vidal said the
inmates have reached an
agreement with the
authorities on the respect
for present visiting scheme
and the freedom of cult, as
well as a handover of prison
control with the presence of
judicial authorities and the
press.
The riot broke out during
family visiting hours on
Thursday afternoon. The
inmates demanded a reduction
of their prison terms and
better living conditions.
They held at least 42 people
hostage, including inmate
relatives, a number of
guards and the director of
the prison Emilio Corso.
Television footage showed
groups of face-covered
inmates were threatening to
throw the hostages from the
roof of the prison.
About 1,000 police agents
and army troops brought
order back to the prison.
Eight people were dead in
the conflict, including five
prisoners, two prison guards
and one police agent.
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