Peru Elections

Fifteen years before he became an overnight presidential hopeful, Fernando Olivera was elected Peru's youngest congressman. His party's emblem was a broom. The broom still symbolizes the 42-year-old former prosecutor's mission to clean up politics: since 1985 he has gone after larcenous politicians, murderous military officers and the like.

Peruvian President Alberto Fujimori, apparently reassured of the support of the United States and the rest of the Western Hemisphere for his beleaguered government, pledged Friday to guarantee "stability and democracy" until elections are held next year. On the second day of a hastily arranged visit to Washington, Fujimori met with Secretary of State Madeleine Albright and National Security Advisor Samuel R. "Sandy" Berger to discuss his plans for a transition of power.

Peruvian President Alberto Fujimori took a hastily arranged trip to Washington on Thursday to appeal for international support for his troubled regime and his plan to remain in office until new elections are held next year. With rumors of a planned military coup swirling in Lima, Peru's capital, Fujimori conferred with Cesar Gaviria, secretary-general of the Organization of American States. He was scheduled to meet with Secretary of State Madeleine Albright today. After months of ignoring U.S.

Breaking a five-day silence that had sparked fears of a coup, Peru's powerful armed forces Thursday backed President Alberto Fujimori's call for early elections in a communique that helped ease political nervousness and steadied financial markets. In the joint communique, the commanders of the army, air force, navy and police said they supported Fujimori's surprise weekend announcement, which also included deactivating the National Intelligence Service, closely allied with the military.

Responding to fears that the military is resisting his decision to hold new elections and dismantle Peru's intelligence service, President Alberto Fujimori declared Tuesday that he remains in full control of this crisis-ridden nation. Fujimori spoke for the first time since his announcement Saturday that he will step down after the early elections.

In the wake of President Alberto Fujimori's momentous decision to hold new elections in which he will not run, Peruvians grappled Sunday with two questions: What really happened? And what happens next? The citizens of this nation are accustomed to dramatic and mysterious political events after 10 years under a leader with a penchant for audacity and secrecy. But Fujimori topped himself Saturday night, delivering the ultimate bombshell.

In a stunning capitulation after months of political crisis, Peruvian President Alberto Fujimori announced Saturday night that he will convene new presidential elections and will not be a candidate. Fujimori made the announcement without warning about 9:15 p.m. in a televised speech to the nation.

President Hugo Chavez on Sunday praised his Andean counterparts for asserting their independence from the United States by resisting U.S. pressure to condemn Peruvian President Alberto Fujimori's recent victory in the polls. Chavez, a left-leaning nationalist who led a botched coup attempt in 1992 and was elected president in December 1998, stressed that the U.S. has no business getting involved in Peru's internal affairs.

As hundreds of anti-free trade protesters chanted outside, foreign ministers from the Organization of American States launched their annual assembly Sunday, expecting to focus on Peru's presidential election. OAS delegates were scheduled to consider last month's presidential runoff election in Peru, after a human rights report accused the South American country of failing to meet democratic election standards.

Peruvian President Alberto Fujimori insisted that his election victory was fair despite an opposition boycott and condemnation from the U.S., which called his "regime" a serious threat to Latin American democracy. He won a third consecutive term Sunday after opposition leader Alejandro Toledo urged the boycott, citing fraud concerns. The U.S.