Lima - Thousands of people turned out to applaud the former Peruvian president, Mr Alan Garcia, in a central Lima square on Wednesday evening where the "comeback kid" captivated his audience with emotive appeals for social justice, Michael McCaughan reports. "I've made mistakes and I've learned from them," said Mr Garcia, who promised free healthcare and education, higher wages and better pensions if re-elected.
Mr Garcia left Peru in economic chaos, yet Peruvians recall the early years of his presidency, when the poor enjoyed low food prices. Sunday's election is unlikely to produce a clear winner, which requires 50 per cent plus one vote or a run-off between the two highest-polling candidates.
Peru's vicious scandal sheets kept up the pace this week, calling Ms Lourdes Flores, rated second in the polls, a "closet lesbian" and accusing the favourite, Mr Alejandro Toledo, of links to the Shining Path, Peru's brutal rebels.