FEARS of a coup in Peru were raised on Monday evening as a group of retired army officers urged the military to refuse to recognise the election of Pedro Castillo as president.

The ex-officers said that all allegations of fraud must be thoroughly investigated as supporters of the runner-up in the presidential poll, Keiko Fujimori, continue to cry foul. 

The daughter of jailed dictator Alberto Fujimori lodged a number of legal complaints following the election, which was won by Mr Castillo, a self-declared Marxist-Leninist, by just 44,058 votes.

Journalist Luis Garate said that the threat of a coup was serious, with a concerted effort by elitist supporters of Ms Fujimori to spread fake news and create a climate of fear in order to justify military intervention.

He said: “They’re making speeches, they are producing these fake news and press notes, calling for the armed forces in Peru to take a position or not, you know, recognising the results of the presidential election because of these … fraud accusations.”

Mr Castillo’s supporters rallied over the weekend, urging the electoral authorities to formally declare his victory. Ms Fujimori’s lawsuits could take weeks to resolve.