Fujimori

LIMA, Peru (AP):

Peru's once-feared former spy master testified yesterday that ex-president Alberto Fujimori had nothing to do with the death squad killings with which he is charged.

Vladimiro Montesinos' testimony was one of the most-anticipated moments of Fujimori's trial. Fujimori relied heavily on Montesinos, who was head of his National Intelligence Service during the 1990s.

Montesinos told the court yesterday that he was testifying for Fujimori even though he could remain silent under the law and he has declined to testify in some of his own trials. Montesinos already is serving up to 20 years for crimes, including corruption and running guns to Colombian rebels, and faces a 35-year sentence in a separate trial if convicted of organising the death squad.

'No responsibility'

Montesinos said Fujimori had "no responsibility" for the two death squad cases from 1991 and 1992 in which 25 people died. Fujimori, 69, is charged with homicide, kidnapping and grave injuries and could face 30 years in prison. He says he is innocent.

Montesinos, 63, helped Fujimori crush leftist rebel movements and was accountable to none but the president. But he also was at the heart of a corruption scandal that brought down Fujimori's 10-year-old administration in 2000.

Montesinos has denied involvement in the death squad cases, blaming the army instead. In other cases, Montesinos has said he was acting on Fujimori's orders, and once dared his former boss to return from self-imposed exile in Japan to face Peruvian justice.

Fujimori, for his part, has said Montesinos betrayed his trust.