Fujimori refuses comment on Japan asylum rumor

TOKYO, Japan (Reuters) -- Peruvian President Alberto Fujimori arrived in Tokyo on Friday and refused to comment on rumours that he was seeking political asylum in Asia.

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"No comment," Fujimori told reporters after stepping off a flight from Kuala Lumpur, apparently en route home from a brief trip to the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum in Brunei.

Fujimori ignored questions about whether he planned to remain in Tokyo.

One Peruvian official said only: "He is going to stay in Japan." However, he said he did not know the reason and did not know how long the trip would last.

The rumours that Fujimori might seek asylum in Asia surfaced after he flew to Brunei for the Asia-Pacific summit, leaving behind him political turmoil at home.

A bribery scandal involving Fujimori's fugitive ex-spy chief, Vladimiro Montesinos, plunged Peru into political crisis two months ago, prompting the president to announce he would quit in July after April elections four years early.

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