Peru's National Electoral Council yesterday announced its unanimous rejection of an appeal, lodged by the defeated presidential candidate, Mr Alejandro Toledo, to annul last Sunday's vote. Mr Toledo had withdrawn from the race alleging serious irregularities.
At a meeting on Wednesday Latin America's ambassadors to the Organisation of American States (OAS) rejected a US proposal to invoke resolution 1080, which would instruct the 34-member regional body to take urgent measures against President Alberto Fujimori.
Mexico's delegate to the OAS conference, Mr Claude Heller, came out strongly against intervention in Peru's political crisis, arguing that the OAS "at no time should be a substitute for the functions which correspond to state institutions".
Mr Heller said it was up to the Peruvian people to strengthen their democratic institutions.
The OAS members agreed only that the issue be included on the foreign ministers' agenda this Sunday, but the tone of this week's debate suggests that no decisive action can be expected.
The head of the OAS observer team in Peru, Mr Eduardo Stein, presented his report at Wednesday's session.
He said he had ended his team's collaboration with the process due to "insufficiencies, irregularities, inconsistencies and imbalances" in the process.
Peru's OAS delegate, Ms Beatriz Ramaccioti, accused the OAS observers of becoming "political actors" in the process, exceeding their authority by demanding a postponement of the election date.
Mr Fujimori, elected for a third term as President, said that he trusted in his country's "close alliance" with the US to overcome the current crisis, a hint that anti-drugs assistance might be at risk should action be taken against his government.
Mr Fujimori also started a diplomatic offensive to defend his rule, sending the Foreign Minister, Mr Alberto Bustamante, to the US, Spain and Japan this week.
Mr Toledo is planning his own diplomatic initiative, meeting the Spanish Prime Minister, Mr Jose Maria Aznar, next Monday, before travelling to Canada to attend an OAS assembly next Wednesday.
Reuters adds: The Inter-American Institute for Human Rights praised Venezuela's postponement of last Sunday's elections, contrasting the move with Peru's decision to go ahead with the presidential runoff.
"Caracas knew how to give a democratic response in the face of a politically difficult electoral situation," said Mr Roberto Cuellar, director of the Costa Rica-based group.