Mr Fujimori says he is a victim of political persecution

Interpol had issued a "Red Notice" regarding Mr Fujimori, which is not a warrant and cannot compel any country to arrest or extradite a suspect, but does signify that the organisation is satisfied an arrest is justified.

Mr Fujimori, who holds Japanese nationality, is living in exile in Tokyo.

Japan's Chief Cabinet Secretary, Yasuo Fukuda, said the Interpol request would not be honoured, as it was not considered binding under the country's laws.

"Our domestic laws are not such that we will carry it out," he said.

Charges denied

Mr Fujimori fled to Japan in November 2000 amid a corruption and bribery scandal, taking Japanese citizenship shortly afterwards.

He is seen as a hero in Japan for his role in freeing hostages held at the Japanese embassy in Lima six years ago.

The charges against him relate to a 1991 massacre in Lima in which an army "death squad" allegedly killed 15 people at a barbecue in a poor Lima neighbourhood, and a 1992 massacre, also in Lima, in which nine students and a professor with suspected leftist links were killed.

An arrest warrant was issued in Peru in 2001 but the Japanese constitution does not allow extradition of its citizens and the country has no extradition treaty with Peru.

Interpol's Red Notice was later issued on request from Peru, in connection with the outstanding warrant.