Peruvian Assassination Plot Reported

L I M A, Peru, Oct. 28 -- An Argentine newspaper said onFriday Peru’s military chiefs had plotted to killPresident Alberto Fujimori a month ago, but the president’soffice in Lima declined comment on the report.

The report in Clarin was published as Fujimori hunted forthe former spy master Vladimiro Montesinos who challenged hisgrip on the powerful military.

The report by award-winning Peruvian investigative reporterAngel Paez cited government sources quoting Fujimoriwarning of a plot—intended to mirror the assassination ofEgyptian President Anwar Sadat in 1981— to havetaken place at a Sept. 24 celebration for armed forces day.

The presidential palace said it had no comment on thereport, which was also published on the Internet. No one wasimmediately available at the military command.

Fujimori had announced eight days earlier on Sept. 16 thathe would step down next July after the worst political crisisof his 10-year rule was sparked by a corruption scandalinvolving Montesinos.

Spy Chief Sparked Turmoil

Montesinos, who ran the notorious intelligence service(SIN), hand-picked the military top brass and ralliedthem behind Fujimori. The president displayed his reliance onthe military when he suspended the constitution and orderedtanks on the streets in a 1992 “self-coup.”

But a video aired on television on Sept. 14 showedMontesinos apparently bribing an opposition legislator to backthe government. The ensuing scandal led to Fujimori’s bombshelldecision to step down and call early elections.

With escalating rumors of a coup, Montesinos flew to Panamaearly on Sept. 24, hours before the ceremony at the armyheadquarters, known as the “Pentagonito” (little Pentagon).

The report, quoting cabinet sources, said that by being outof the country, Montesinos would have had an alibi.

President Learned of Plot

Fujimori got wind of the fact that military officials hadtold some of his ministers the ceremony—a major annual eventattended by commanders of the three armed forces and the media— had been cancelled, according to the report.