Fugitive former Peruvian President Alberto Fujimori formally announced Thursday he will run in the Peruvian presidential election next April.
Fujimori made the announcement at a news conference in Tokyo, where he has lived in self-imposed exile for five years since relinquishing his decade-long presidency in November 2000.
Peruvian authorities have indicted Fujimori on more than 20 counts, including involvement in the military's killing of civilians and corruption while he was in office from 1990 to 2000. He is also on Interpol's wanted list.
Fujimori has rejected all the charges leveled against him, claiming they are politically motivated, and has asked the Peruvian authorities to repeal the order to arrest him.
He said Thursday he will make a political comeback, claiming he is supported by 30 percent of voters in Peru.
Fujimori received a new Peruvian passport at the Peruvian Consulate General in Tokyo in mid-September, apparently paving the way for an attempted political comeback. His old passport was revoked after he fled to Japan.
It is unclear whether he is eligible to run in the election, given that he is likely to face instant arrest if he sets foot in Peru and that the Peruvian Congress has passed a resolution banning him from holding public office until 2010.
The candidacy filing deadline is in January, and Peruvian election authorities will determine his eligibility then.
Japan, which has no extradition treaty with Peru, has refused Peruvian demands to hand him over, citing his Japanese citizenship.
Born in Peru to Japanese immigrants, Fujimori was granted Japanese citizenship and a Japanese passport after his arrival in Japan in 2000.