Alberto Fujimori

Former Peruvian President Alberto Fujimori has announced he will run for president again in the upcoming election.

Mr. Fujimori made the announcement at a news conference Thursday, in Japan.

He has been living in self-imposed exile in Japan since fleeing Peru in November 2000 in the midst of a corruption scandal.

He was granted Japanese nationality due to his ancestry, but last month received a new Peruvian passport.

Peruvian prosecutors have also petitioned Japan to extradite Mr. Fujimori so he can face criminal charges on allegations ranging from abuse of power and embezzlement to sanctioning a paramilitary death squad. He has denied all the charges.

Peru's congress has banned him from holding public office again until at least 2010.