Representatives of the conservative People's New Party approached Fujimori at his Santiago, Chile residence, where he is held under house arrest, and urged him Monday to run in July elections for the upper house of Japan's Diet.

Fujimori has faced extradition to Peru on human rights charges since November 2005, when he was nabbed in Santiago before he could launch a presidential campaign in neighboring Peru.

Fujimori, president of Peru from 1990 to 2000, is a Peruvian of Japanese descent and is a Japanese citizen. He lived in exile in Tokyo for five years while he plotted a political comeback, and is legally eligible to run.

"Alberto Fujimori has reserved his final response, while considering what benefits his possible election as a senator in Japan could have for Peru," the ex-president's aides in Lima said in a statement Tuesday.

Peruvian prosecutors however want Fujimori to face a series of charges that include ordering the murders of 25 people in 1991 and 1992, ordering the abduction and torture of opponents and embezzling government funds.

Two weeks ago Chile's Supreme Court prosecutor recommended that the court accept Peru's request for Fujimori's extradition. The final ruling however was delayed as the Chilean judge handling the case went on sick leave.

Peruvian Foreign Minister Jose Garcia Belaunde was unimpressed with the possible candidacy. "It is a maneuver by that party and by ex-president Fujimori to try to avoid extradition ... and involve the Japanese government," he told El Comercio, Peru's leading newspaper.

For Peru "the issue is in the hands of Chilean justice," he said. "We trust them, and are convinced that they will not alter the course of events."

Fujimori's candidacy in Japan "would in no way affect the process of extradition," said Chilean lawyer Carlos Castro, an expert in the laws involving repatriation.

"For the law, he is a Peruvian citizen with charges pending in Peru," said Castro, speaking in Santiago.

His Japanese nationality has no effect on his case, said Hugo Gutierrez, a Chilean human rights specialist. He added that Fujimori's status as Peru's ex-president gives him no special privileges in Chile.