SANTIAGO, Nov. 15 (Xinhuanet) -- A Chilean court rejected on Tuesday a legal request to free Peruvian ex-president Alberto Fujimori, who was arrested in Santiago last Monday.

    "There was a warrant issued by the correct authority so the request was rejected unanimously," said Lamberto Cisternas, a judge on the Santiago Appeals Court.

    Chile could detain Fujimori for two months before the Peruvian government formally requests extradition of the wanted ex-president, who was facing more than 20 charges including kidnapping, torture and murder of opposition activists, he added.

    Fujimori, who had been living in Japan after his government collapsed in 2000 due to corruption scandals, is under preventative detention in Santiago's military police school.

    The motion was filed by Antonio Marin Garay, a Chilean engineer. "Every Chilean citizen or foreigner should have due legal process," he told reporters.

    Chile's Supreme Court dismissed an appeal by Fujimori's lawyers contesting his arrest a week ago.

    Fujimori had hoped to use Chile as a base to launch a campaign to regain the presidency of Peru. Elections are due there in April 2006.

    Peru's extradition requests of Fujimori had been refused twice by Japan, which said it would not deport a citizen. Fujimori, son of Japanese immigrants, has a dual nationality. Enditem