Peru's Fujimori leads operation to detain former spy chief

OAS Secretary General Cesar Gaviria, left, and President Alberto Fujimori pose on Wednesday for the media at the government palace in Lima, Peru

From staff and wire reports

LIMA, Peru (CNN) -- Peruvian President Albert Fujimori told the nation late Wednesday evening that he had ordered the detention of his former intelligence chief Vladimiro Montesinos .

Fujimori, who appeared to be leading the manhunt for Montesinos, made his announcement by phone from a home at a military installation once owned by Montesinos.

The confirmation came after a day of speculation which began when Fujimori ordered the armed forces confined to their barracks on Wednesday, announcing an unspecified "operation" was in progress.

The order immediately fueled speculation that Fujimori has launched a mission to capture his former spy chief, whose whereabouts remain unknown after his surprise return to Peru from Panama on Monday.

"We have declared a total freeze on military movement," Fujimori told reporters earlier.

"We are conducting an operation and we will give details," he said, surrounded by a heavy guard.

RESOURCES Alberto Fujimori pictoral timeline: a decade in power   MESSAGE BOARD Peru in transition     ALSO Peru's ex-spy chief says he wants out of political intrigue

Fujimori made the statement after leading a convoy of vehicles carrying members of an elite police force to an army officers club in the resort town of Chaclacayo, located in the foothills of the Andes 35 kilometers (22 miles) east of Lima.

Retired army Gen. Walter Ledesma was skeptical of the reports that Fujimori is trying to capture Montesinos. A more likely scenario, he said, is that Fujimori is staging a cat-and-mouse chase to give Montesinos an excuse to claim he is the victim of political persecution. This would make it easier for Montesinos to obtain political asylum in another country.

Many Peruvians believe that Montesinos is plotting to seize power from Fujimori. Montesinos, the former head of Peru's National Intelligence Service, hand-picked the top generals in the military and has powerful allies throughout the government.

Montesinos loyalists purged

Fujimori has been leading a purge of Montesinos loyalists in the military since Montesinos reappeared in the country.

Fujimori, whose re-election this year was tainted by widespread irregularities, announced last month he was stepping down after a leaked videotape showed Montesinos apparently bribing a lawmaker. Fujimori pledged new elections would be held and announced he would not run.

Members of the Organization of American States (OAS), from left to right, Eduardo La Torre, Peter Bohem, Secretary General Cesar Gaviria, and President Alberto Fujimori on Wednesday during a meeting at the government palace

However, talks with the opposition on the timing of the elections have broken down. The government has demanded new elections be contingent on a sweeping amnesty for officials accused of abuses during Peru's battle with leftist guerrillas and drug traffickers.

On Wednesday, Organization of American States Secretary General Cesar Gaviria's delegation met for about 90 minutes with Fujimori and his top ministers. As the meeting was about to begin, Fujimori told reporters his government is willing to modify its "reconciliation plan" with the opposition.

Government ministers have insisted the reconciliation proposal is designed to prevent a "witch hunt" after Fujimori hands power to a new government next July following new elections. But opposition leaders involved in the OAS talks say Montesinos and the military are really more concerned with guarantees against prosecution for involvement in drug trafficking and arms dealing.

The opposition has been calling for Fujimori's resignation, saying he is not in control and charging that he has been backtracking on democratic reforms needed for new elections. Fujimori has rejected the demands that he quit, insisting he, not Montesinos, controls the military -- a key issue in the stalled negotiations.

On Wednesday, protesters outside the presidential palace hurled insults at Gaviria and called for Fujimori to go. Inmates rioted at a prison in Lima, demanding he step down.

Mexico City Bureau Chief Harris Whitbeck, The Associated Press and Reuters contributed to this report.

Fujimori declares control of military as ex-spy chief explains his return
October 24, 2000
Peruvian government in turmoil after ex-spy chief's return
October 23, 2000
Opposition accuses Peru's Fujimori of forcing military amnesty
October 21, 2000
Peru's spy chief lands in Panama in asylum bid
September 24, 2000
Peruvian president announces reform of intelligence service
August 24, 2000

Organization of American States
Bienvenidos al Ministerio de la Presidencia (Spanish)
Ministerio de Relaciones Exteriores del Peru (Spanish/English)
Congreso de la Republica del Peru (Spanish/English)
Peru Posible
RPP Noticias (Spanish)
  •  Montesinos interview (Spanish)

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