SANTIAGO, Nov. 7 (Xinhuanet) -- The arrest in Chile of former Peruvian President Alberto Fujimori, accused by Peruvian courts on 21 charges including torture and kidnapping, has heightened diplomatic tensions triggered by a maritime border dispute.

    Fujimori was arrested on Monday, after arriving in Santiago on a private flight from Japan. He had been in exile in Japan since fleeing Peru in 2000 after his 10-year presidency collapsed.

    "I hope this does not mean a greater difficulty added to our differences of opinion over the frontiers in the Pacific Ocean," Chilean President Ricardo Lagos said.

    He added that courts, not the government, would decide on whether to extradite Fujimori, as requested by the Peruvian government.

    Chile responded promptly to Peru's request, organizing a committee to deal with the issue of Fujimori, who has appealed to be released on bail, he added.

    Analysts in Chile say Fujimori is confident that the country's Supreme Court will not authorize his extradition. Last year the same body rejected an Argentine petition to extradite that country's former president Carlos Menem.

    Fujimori was transferred to a school for supervision by Chile's military police under an order of supreme court judge Orlando Alvarez. Fujimori had wanted to begin a campaign for Peru's presidency from neighbouring Chile.

    Peruvian President Alejandro Toledo thanked Chile for "taking the first step" and said he was disappointed that he had not received the news from InterPol offices in the United States or Japan.

    Japan refused to extradite Fujimori despite repeated requests from Peru, saying that as a Japanese passport holder, Fujimori cannot be extradited.

    Peruvians gathered outside Santiago police stations and protested for Fujimori be tried in Chile amid claims that Peruvianauthorities were too corrupted.

    Chile's parliament will discuss both the arrest of Fujimori andthe sea border row with Peru in a special session on Tuesday. Enditem