But the former leader refused to agree to the meeting, Lerner said.

"It is a lack of courtesy not to answer directly to our panel, which has the support of 80 percent of the Peruvian people," Lerner said of Fujimori's decision not to meet him. "It is an insult to the Peruvian people."

Lerner said he wanted to hear Fujimori's response to allegations that he sanctioned two massacres during his 10-year administration. Lerner's commission is investigating atrocities committed during Peru's bloody, 20-year battle against an insurgency by the Shining Path, a Maoist guerrilla group.

Lerner said the commission would consider releasing its questions for Fujimori to the media, if he continues to reject requests for a meeting.

Fujimori faces murder charges in Peru for allegedly authorizing the 1991 Barrios Altos massacre of 15 revelers at a barbecue in a poor Lima neighborhood, and the 1992 La Cantuta University killings of nine students and a professor.

The victims, including an 8-year-old boy, were slain for being suspected rebel sympathizers.

The two incidents have become symbols of the conflict's brutality. At least 30,000 people died and 6,000 people disappeared at the hands of both the government security forces and the rebels.

The commission — a government-appointed body of experts with no judicial powers — has until July next year to investigate the atrocities committed during the presidential terms of Fernando Belaunde in 1980-85, Alan Garcia in 1985-90 and Fujimori in 1990-2000.

The government will then decide what, if any, action to take on the findings.

So far, Belaunde and Garcia, as well as retired army Cmdr. Morales-Bermudez — who presided over Peru's transition from military to civilian government in 1980 — have been interviewed by the commission.

Fujimori, who also faces charges of dereliction of duty, abandonment of office and corruption, denies all allegations. A Japanese citizen, he has refused to return to face charges, saying he would not receive a fair trial.