Peru's pardoned ex-president Fujimori asks for public forgiveness

LIMA, Dec. 26 (Xinhua) -- Peru's ex-president Alberto Fujimori, whose 25-year prison sentence was commuted by current President Pedro Pablo Kuczynski, asked those he had wronged for forgiveness on Tuesday.

The move appeared designed to quell protests that have broken out against the pardon.

On Christmas Eve, Kuczynski cited Fujimori's poor health conditions as reasons to grant the "humanitarian" pardon.

In a video posted to his Facebook account, a contrite Fujimori addressed the nation from a hospital bed, where he is being treated for what one doctor described as non-life threatening ailments.

"I am aware that the results during my government were well received on the one hand, but I acknowledge that on the other hand, I have also disappointed other compatriots. I ask them for forgiveness with all my heart," said Fujimori.

Fujimori, 79, ruled the country using oppressive tactics. He was sentenced to 25 years in prison in 2009 for ordering security forces to massacre 25 people.

A day after Kuczynski announced the pardon, police in the capital Lima clashed with protesters, launching tear gas at angry demonstrators.

Several opposition lawmakers have expressed suspect that the pardon points to a pact between Kuczynski and political factions led by Keiko Fujimori, daughter of the ex-president and head of the opposition Popular Force (FP) party.

The FP had strongly backed a motion in congress to impeach Kuczynski for being "morally unfit" to serve, following revelations that companies linked to him received millions in bribes from Brazilian construction giant Odebrecht.

Last week, President Kuczynski survived the impeachment vote after the Congress failed to gain enough votes to pass the motion. Enditem