Peru President Calls for New Elections

L I M A, Peru, Sept. 17 -- President Alberto Fujimori, under fire at homeand abroad over a bribery scandal, made a surprise announcementSaturday that he would call new elections and that he would not bea candidate.

Immediately after the announcement on national television,thousands of people gathered outside the presidential palace inLima, chanting anti-Fujimori slogans and demanding that theauthoritarian president, who has ruled this country since 1990,leave office.

Announcement Applauded

In other parts of Lima and cities in Peru’s interior, caravansof drivers waved Peruvian flags and honked their car horns lateinto the night, celebrating the news that the man dubbed “TheEmperor” for his tough governing style was stepping down.

The 62-year-old Fujimori, smiling and looking at ease, did notannounce a date for the new elections. But he said the vote wasnecessary after the political uproar over a videotape allegedlyshowing his intelligence chief bribing an opposition congressman tosupport the government.

“Despite having been elected by a majority of the population, Ido not want to become a disturbing factor, and much less, anobstacle to the strengthening of the democratic system,” Fujimorisaid.

The president said he would “deactivate” the NationalIntelligence Service, headed by the feared Vladimiro Montesinos, aclose Fujimori adviser at the center of the bribery scandal.Fujimori did not elaborate on what steps he would take with theagency.

“After a profound reflection, and an objective evaluation ofthe circumstances, I have made the decision, first, to deactivatethe system of national intelligence and, in second place, call inthe quickest time possible general elections,” Fujimori said inthe eight-minute address.

“In these general elections,” he said, pausing to take a deepbreath, “it’s obvious he who is speaking will not participate.”

Opposition Congressman Carlos Ferrero said Fujimori was forcedto take the steps he did because the armed forces, especially thearmy, withdrew their support for him.