Belaude escapes gun attack

PERUVIAN presidential hopeful Rafael Belaunde escaped bloodied but not seriously hurt this week from an attack by gunmen on his car south of the capital Lima, police said.

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Two gunmen on a motorbike fired "eight or nine" shots at the SUV the 50-year-old politician was driving and the candidate returned fire, according to police chief General Oscar Arriola.

Three bullets shattered the front window, police said, leaving Belaunde with blood stains on his face and shirt from cuts caused by broken glass, widely seen in images on TV and social media.

Belaunde said the injuries were "scratches sustained after the incident," in the town of Cerro Azul, about 130km south of Lima.

Using his own weapon, Belaunde fired "at least 12 shots" at his attackers, Arriola told news outlet Peru 21. No gunshot injuries were reported.