Washington/Lima  - The international rights organization Human Rights Watch called Tuesday's conviction of former Peruvian president Alberto Fujimori on human rights abuses a "major advance for human rights accountability."

The court in the Peruvian capital of Lima found that prosecutors had proven their case that Fujimori had ordered the killings of 25 people in two massacres at La Cantuta and Barrios Altos and two kidnappings in 1991 and 1992.

"After years of evading justice, Fujimori is finally being held to account for some of his crimes," said Maria McFarland, senior Americas researcher at the organization, in a statement e-mailed to dpa's Washington office.

She was in the courtroom for the judgement.

"With this ruling and its exemplary performance during the trial, the Peruvian court has shown the world that even former heads of state cannot expect to get away with serious crimes." (dpa)