Peru ex-military stir election tensions with appeal to Armed Forces to "remedy" poll

LIMA, (Reuters) - A group of retired officers has suggested Peru's military should refuse to recognize socialist candidate Pedro Castillo if he is declared winner of the country's presidential election if fraud allegations are not investigated, according to a letter circulated widely on social media yesterday.

Interim president Francisco Sagasti confirmed the letter, which was posted on Twitter and Facebook, arrived at the general headquarters of the armed forces, bearing the names of at least 80 retired military personnel. Sagasti said he had ordered an investigation into what he said could be "harmful conduct" against the rule of law and insisted the armed forces should remain neutral.

Peru held a second round of its presidential elections on June 6, with Castillo ahead of conservative candidate Keiko Fujimori by a razor thin margin, according to the electoral office's vote count completed on Tuesday.

The winner has not yet been officially declared because the party of Fujimori, the eldest daughter of imprisoned ex-president Alberto Fujimori, has asked for the annulment of some 900 voting tables where she alleged, without publicly providing evidence, that fraud was committed.

Friday's letter appealed to military chiefs to "act rigorously" and "remedy" the "demonstrated irregularities" that took place during the vote or risk having an "illegal and illegitimate" commander in chief at the helm of the country.

The tight election has deeply divided citizens of the world's second-largest copper producer. Protest marches by supporters of both candidates take place almost daily in downtown Lima, calling for a swift resolution and respect for the popular will.