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| Fujimori gets lengthy jail term | |
| (30 minutes later) | |
| Former Peruvian President Alberto Fujimori has been sentenced to 25 years in jail for ordering killings and kidnappings by security forces. | Former Peruvian President Alberto Fujimori has been sentenced to 25 years in jail for ordering killings and kidnappings by security forces. |
| At the end of a 15-month trial, judges found him guilty of two death-squad killings of 25 people during the conflict with guerrillas in the 1990s. | |
| After being sentenced, Mr Fujimori said he would appeal against the verdict. | |
| Human rights group Amnesty International described the verdict as "a milestone in the fight for justice". | Human rights group Amnesty International described the verdict as "a milestone in the fight for justice". |
| "Justice has been done in Peru. This is an historic day," said the group's spokesman, Javier Zuniga. | |
| "It is not every day when a former head of state is convicted for human rights violations such as torture, kidnapping and enforced disappearances. | |
| "We hope that it is just the first of many trials in both Latin America and throughout the world." | |
| Abuse of power | Abuse of power |
| Mr Fujimori is already serving a six-year term after being found guilty in 2007 on separate charges of abuse of power. | Mr Fujimori is already serving a six-year term after being found guilty in 2007 on separate charges of abuse of power. |
| The trial, which took place at a special-forces police base on the outskirts of the capital, Lima, was the first time a democratically elected Latin American leader had been tried and found guilty in his own country for human rights abuses. | The trial, which took place at a special-forces police base on the outskirts of the capital, Lima, was the first time a democratically elected Latin American leader had been tried and found guilty in his own country for human rights abuses. |
| Outside the base, anti-Fujimori activists clashed with his supporters, attacking each other with sticks, fists and stones before being separated by riot police. | Outside the base, anti-Fujimori activists clashed with his supporters, attacking each other with sticks, fists and stones before being separated by riot police. |
| In reading the court's ruling, Chief Judge Cesar San Martin said the charges were proven beyond all reasonable doubt. | In reading the court's ruling, Chief Judge Cesar San Martin said the charges were proven beyond all reasonable doubt. |
| Correspondents say Mr Fujimori apparently anticipated a guilty verdict. He sat alone taking notes as the verdict was read out. | Correspondents say Mr Fujimori apparently anticipated a guilty verdict. He sat alone taking notes as the verdict was read out. |
| FUJIMORI CHARGES 1991 Barrios Altos killings: 15 dead1992 La Cantuta killings: 10 dead1992 illegal detention: journalist Gustavo Gorriti and businessman Samuel DyerSeparate trial on corruption and illegal wiretapping charges Head to head: Fujimori verdict Profile: Alberto Fujimori | FUJIMORI CHARGES 1991 Barrios Altos killings: 15 dead1992 La Cantuta killings: 10 dead1992 illegal detention: journalist Gustavo Gorriti and businessman Samuel DyerSeparate trial on corruption and illegal wiretapping charges Head to head: Fujimori verdict Profile: Alberto Fujimori |
| As the televised "mega trial" neared its end last Friday, the former leader told the court that the charges against him were exaggerated and motivated by revenge. | As the televised "mega trial" neared its end last Friday, the former leader told the court that the charges against him were exaggerated and motivated by revenge. |
| There was no proof, he said, that he had overseen a death squad as part of a "dirty war" against suspected Maoist Shining Path guerrillas in the early 1990s. | There was no proof, he said, that he had overseen a death squad as part of a "dirty war" against suspected Maoist Shining Path guerrillas in the early 1990s. |
| "I completely reject that I gave any orders in an allegedly parallel system to put into practice a dirty war to defeat terrorism," he said. | "I completely reject that I gave any orders in an allegedly parallel system to put into practice a dirty war to defeat terrorism," he said. |
| The trial heard from about 80 witnesses in more than 150 court sessions. | The trial heard from about 80 witnesses in more than 150 court sessions. |
| The prosecution argued that Mr Fujimori authorised the counter-insurgency actions of a death squad known as La Colina that killed 25 people in 1991 and 1992. | The prosecution argued that Mr Fujimori authorised the counter-insurgency actions of a death squad known as La Colina that killed 25 people in 1991 and 1992. |
| Mr Fujimori was also found guilty of ordering the brief abduction of a journalist and a businessman. | Mr Fujimori was also found guilty of ordering the brief abduction of a journalist and a businessman. |
| Some Peruvians remain vocal in their support for the former president | Some Peruvians remain vocal in their support for the former president |
| Mr Fujimori's decade in power came to a dramatic end in November 2000 when he fled to his parents' native Japan in the wake of a bribery scandal involving his intelligence chief. | Mr Fujimori's decade in power came to a dramatic end in November 2000 when he fled to his parents' native Japan in the wake of a bribery scandal involving his intelligence chief. |
| He spent five years in self-imposed exile in Japan before flying to Chile in 2005 where he was arrested. Two years later he was extradited to Peru to stand trial. | He spent five years in self-imposed exile in Japan before flying to Chile in 2005 where he was arrested. Two years later he was extradited to Peru to stand trial. |
| Proceedings over the past 15 months have frequently been held up because of Mr Fujimori's poor health. | Proceedings over the past 15 months have frequently been held up because of Mr Fujimori's poor health. |
| However, correspondents say Mr Fujimori is still a political figure. | However, correspondents say Mr Fujimori is still a political figure. |
| He is popular among those Peruvians who credit him with saving the country from rebel insurgency and economic collapse. He also has 13 supporters in Peru's 120-member congress, among them his daughter Keiko. | He is popular among those Peruvians who credit him with saving the country from rebel insurgency and economic collapse. He also has 13 supporters in Peru's 120-member congress, among them his daughter Keiko. |
| She has not formally announced her candidature for the 2011 elections. But the 33-year-old was the front-runner in a recent Lima-based opinion poll. | She has not formally announced her candidature for the 2011 elections. But the 33-year-old was the front-runner in a recent Lima-based opinion poll. |
| She has said she would not hesitate to pardon her father if she became Peru's president. | She has said she would not hesitate to pardon her father if she became Peru's president. |
| Are you in Peru? Send us your reaction to the verdict using the form below: | Are you in Peru? Send us your reaction to the verdict using the form below: |
| The BBC may edit your comments and not all emails will be published. Your comments may be published on any BBC media worldwide. Terms & Conditions | The BBC may edit your comments and not all emails will be published. Your comments may be published on any BBC media worldwide. Terms & Conditions |