Fugitive former Peruvian President Alberto Fujimori applied Tuesday for a Peruvian passport at the Peruvian Consulate General in Tokyo.

His move is apparently part of his preparations for running in Peru's presidential election next April. The new passport will be issued Wednesday.

His passport expired after the Peruvian Congress adopted a resolution in 2001 banning him from holding public office for 10 years.

Indicted on more than 20 counts, including involvement in the military's killing of civilians and corruption, Fujimori faces arrest if he returns home.

Fujimori, the son of Japanese immigrants, has been living in exile in Japan since abandoning, and being ousted from, his presidency in November 2000. Since Japan granted him citizenship at the time and he has a Japanese passport, he has been shielded from extradition.

Tokyo has repeatedly refused to extradite the disgraced leader, claiming legal grounds.

The former leader has pledged to return from Japan to seek re-election in next year's poll, despite the standing act of Congress banning him from public office.