[JURIST] Government officials have asked the Supreme Court of Chile [official website] to place a gag order on former Peruvian President Alberto Fujimori [BBC profile; JURIST news archive] to prevent him from discussing the upcoming presidential election in Peru. Fujimori was released on bail [JURIST report] last week while Chile courts decide whether he should be extradited to Peru, where he faces corruption and human rights charges [Trial Watch backgrounder; JURIST report], including authorizing an illegal death squad and abuse of power. Chile's government said it made the request to the high court Tuesday in response to a diplomatic note from the government of Peru. Since his release last week, Fujimori has given a number of media interviews regarding his extradition and Peru's upcoming election.

The former leader had been living in exile in Japan until he arrived and was arrested in Chile [JURIST report] in November 2005. He returned to South America with hopes of competing in Peru's presidential election, despite having been banned from holding public office [JURIST report] until 2010, but was arrested by Chilean authorities complying with an Interpol warrant. Peru's extradition request is still pending. Reuters has more. The Santiago Times has local coverage.