Peru issues warrant for Fujimori

LIMA, Peru (CNN) -- A top Peruvian judge issued an international warrant Thursday for the arrest of Alberto Fujimori, but it appeared doubtful the warrant would be honored by Japan, where the former president of Peru is in self-imposed exile.

Supreme Court Judge Jose Luis Lecaros declared Fujimori an absent criminal for failing to appear before him to answer charges that he abandoned the duties of his office.

Fujimori left for Japan in November after a corruption scandal involving his former security chief, Vladimiro Montesinos, who is now in jail. He tried to resign the presidency by sending a note from Japan, but Congress did not accept it, and instead declared him morally unfit to govern.

The judicial system is requesting he be sent by Japan back to Peru.

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Because Fujimori's parents are from Japan, he has been granted citizenship there. Japan does not extradite nationals and has no extradition treaty with Peru.

In his inaugural address last Sunday, President Alejandro Toledo called for Fujimori's extradition.