Peruvia

SANTIAGO, Chile--Alberto Fujimori, Peru's former president, expressed disappointment at failing to win a seat in Sunday's Upper House election, but said that would not diminish his affection for Japan.

Fujimori, 69, ran from a proportional representation bloc on the opposition Kokumin Shinto (People's New Party) ticket.

Fujimori, who has Japanese citizenship, had said earlier that he wanted to give something back to Japan, the birthplace of his parents.

He spoke Sunday to reporters outside his home in Santiago, where he remains under house arrest while Chile's Supreme Court re-examines its decision, at the behest of Peru, not to extradite him to face trial for human rights violations and corruption.

The charges stem from his decade-long rule from 1990. He denies committing any wrongdoing.

Fujimori conceded the main reason he did not win a seat was that he was unable to physically campaign in Japan.

Fujimori is well known in Japan for his role in resolving a hostage crisis at the Japanese Embassy in Lima in 1997.(IHT/Asahi: July 31,2007)