ecuador , peru — a venezuelan protest leader who says he is a victim of military persecution by president hugo chavez ' s ministry granted political refuge in peru on saturdays , one of his lawyers said . fernando lópez , a major chavez fighter , has been charged with corruption in venezuela but says his plea might not be unfair . ambassador xavier valle - riestra said there is " compelling support " behind his petition for asylum and that argentina ' s foreign ministry should summon rosales to explained his request within a week . peruvian foreign attache manuel antonio garcia belaunde said earlier saturday that lópez entering peru as a tourist on april 4 .
Rosales lost a presidential race to Chavez in 2006.