Peru to expel American after 20-year terror sentence

Peru on Wednesday will expel Lori Berenson, the only American to serve time for terrorism in the South American nation, after completing her 20-year sentence, authorities said.

"She will go through immigration normally but she is departing as someone being expelled," an immigration official said.

Berenson, a New Yorker who is now 46, was arrested in 1995 and convicted of cooperating with the MRTA, an armed leftist group which plotted to take over the legislature.

While that didn't happen, a year later on December 17, 1996 the MRTA seized the Japanese ambassador's residence in Lima, taking 600 hostages during a Christmas party.

Berenson was tried and sentenced over the original MRTA plot. Most of the leaders of the Tupac Amaru Revolutionary Movement, which was crushed in 2000, were killed or sentenced to life in prison.

Berenson, who has been living in Lima under house arrest after serving three quarters of her sentence behind bars, gave birth in prison. She has a six-year-old son with her attorney and now ex-husband Anibal Apari.

Six years ago, she asked for forgiveness from those who were affected by her actions.

She admitted being an MRTA member but said she was not a leader or someone who committed violent acts.
Source: AFP