Lima - Peruvian President Alberto Fujimori will be sworn in today amid large protests, writes Michael McCaughan. An estimated 300,000 people have converged on Lima from all over the country, laying siege to the presidential palace.
Latin American leaders have shunned the inauguration as the recent elections were marred by vote fraud and widespread intimidation. The only neighbouring presidents who will be attending the ceremony are President Hugo Banzer of Bolivia and President Gustavo Noboa of Ecuador, both of whom have question marks over their own democratic credentials.
Riot police with assault rifles cordoned off 35 blocks around the city centre while businesses closed, anticipating violent disturbances. The size of the crowds may force Mr Fujimori to switch the ceremony to army HQ, an appropriate symbol of increasing army influence over civilian rule.
Mr Fujimori managed to bypass a hostile new congress by persuading a dozen opposition deputies to ratify him as President, with opposition deputies reporting offers of $50,000 to give their vote to him.