By Dan Collyns BBC News, Lima

Alberto Fujimori faces corruption and human rights charges

The Chilean judge dealing with the extradition of Peru's former President Alberto Fujimori has refused to accept new evidence which would slow the case.

Mr Fujimori's lawyers wanted to re-open an inquiry into 10 corruption and two human rights charges, which would have prolonged the case by several months.

Peru's government has expressed concern that Mr Fujimori might not face justice because of legal delays.

He faces corruption and human rights charges dating from his time in office.

For those in the Peruvian government who want to see Mr Fujimori extradited as soon as possible, the ruling will come as a welcome development.

Political career

Chilean Supreme Court judge Orlando Alvarez rejected the pleas of Mr Fujimori's lawyers to re-open the investigation into a number of charges.

The former president, who led Peru between 1990 and 2000, was arrested when he unexpectedly arrived in Chile last year, having spent the previous five years in Japan.

Earlier this week, Peru's anti-corruption prosecutor, Carlos Briceno, said he feared that Mr Fujimori - who holds Japanese citizenship through his parents - would seek asylum in Chile's Japanese embassy or flee the country before the end of the case.

The Peruvian authorities have been even more frustrated by Mr Fujimori's claims that he does not remember key facts or events relating to the charges against him.