Coup Attempt Foiled, Peru Officials Say : Latin America: Small group of army officers plotted to assassinate President Fujimori, government says.

A small group of army officers made an unsuccessful attempt to assassinate President Alberto Fujimori and overthrow the government early Friday, the government said.

Fujimori, who suspended constitutional rule in April with the backing of the military, was forced to abandon the national palace while loyalist forces were deployed to prevent the coup.

Government sources said Fujimori returned to the palace, his official residence, around midday after spending most of the night at army headquarters.

“President Fujimori is in his office, and the situation is completely normal,” said a source who requested anonymity.

The attempt may have been precipitated by a decree published Friday that gives Fujimori control over the firing and assignment of all military officers above the rank of lieutenant. Previously, officers could be removed only at retirement age or for misconduct.

Experts on the Peruvian military said there was some perception Fujimori had trespassed on the traditional autonomy of the force.

A government statement said the military plotters, led by three retired generals, had been arrested and would be tried immediately. There was no immediate word on how many soldiers or units might have been involved.

Retired Gens. Jaime Salinas Sedo, Jose Pastor Vives and Luis Palomino Rodriguez were arrested as conspirators, along with army commander Marcos Zarate Rota, who the statement said was under investigation on drug trafficking.

But Pastor told reporters shortly before he was detained that he had not participated in any conspiracy.

“This is totally crazy,” Pastor said as he read the official statement on the alleged plot. “It would be impossible for retired generals and a commander who control no troops to take the government palace and the army command.”

The government said the coup attempt was intended to block elections for a constituent assembly set for Nov. 22.

The assembly, which is to serve as a Congress and write a new constitution, replaces the legislature that Fujimori shut down April 5 when he closed the courts and imposed military-backed rule. He claimed that corruption was blocking his efforts to fight leftist guerrillas and drug trafficking.

More than 25,000 people have died in political violence in Peru since Sendero Luminoso (Shining Path) guerrillas began their campaign 12 years ago to establish a Maoist state. Most of the victims have been highland peasants caught in the cross-fire between security forces and the rebels.