Today we have issued arrest orders for his capture at the international and national levels

Judge Jose Luis Lecaros

"Today ... we have issued arrest orders ... for his capture at the international and national levels," Judge Jose Luis Lecaros told Radio Programas del Peru.

Peru's Congress and attorney general have charged Mr Fujimori with responsibility for two notorious massacres that occurred during his rule between 1990 and 2000.

He fled to Japan in November 2000 during a corruption scandal which was triggered by his now-jailed former spy chief Vladimiro Montesinos.

Judge Lecaros said the request was based on charges of murder, serious injury and forced disappearance in relation to two massacres, in 1991 and 1992, by an army death squad.

Montesinos: Ready to give evidence against Fujimori

He said the order would be passed to the international police agency, Interpol.

Charges of human rights abuses are the most serious that Fujimori faces. Analysts say they will lend the most strength to Peru's attempts to move him back to the country for trial.

Mr Fujimori has so far been shielded from extradition attempts by his dual Japanese-Peruvian citizenship and by the fact the two countries have no extradition treaty.