LIMA (Reuters) -- Peruvian President Alberto Fujimori should run for a
                  third term in 2000 to finish off widespread reforms instituted since coming to
                  power nine years ago, the head of the Congress said Thursday.

                  Fujimori, who came to power in 1990 and received over 60 percent of the
                  vote in a 1995 election, has not announced whether he plans to run.
                  Opposition parties and many political analysts say he is preparing for a third
                  term.

                  "My political grouping believes he should be candidate. We think Alberto
                  Fujimori would be an ideal candidate to finish off the major reforms which
                  this country has seen," Ricardo Marcenaro told Reuters.

                  Marcenaro heads the president's ruling party in Congress, which political
                  analysts say has largely rubber stamped Fujimori's reforms. The legislature
                  has already cleared away legal obstacles to Fujimori's possible reelection
                  bid.

                  Since 1990, Fujimori's reforms have quelled leftist rebel violence, brought
                  hyperinflation under control and opened the economy to foreign investment,
                  although living standards in this poor Andean nation have remained low.

                  But rights groups and the opposition say the government rode roughshod
                  over the constitution and courts to achieve a possible third term and
                  hounded journalists and politicians who have spoken against Fujimori.

                  After hitting record lows at the end of 1998, Fujimori's popularity rose
                  steadily this year after a major cabinet shake- up in a move seen by analysts
                  as freshening up his image as voters grew frustrated over low wages and
                  unemployment.

                  The president's popularity stands at about 40 percent up from about 30
                  percent at the end of last year, according to leading Peruvian pollsters.