After a fortnight-long break, Peruvians took to the streets again on Wednesday, blocking roads countrywide to demand the resignation of President Dina Boluarte, who took over from her ousted predecessor in December.
Protesters used stones and burning tires to barricade main routes in the southern regions of Puno, Cusco, Apurimac and Arequipa, as well as Junin in the centre, chanting for Boluarte to leave.
Thirty of the country’s 195 provinces have been affected, according to the country’s rights ombudsman.
In downtown Lima, the capital, police dispersed dozens of demonstrators with tear gas as they tried to reach Congress, with some journalists hurt in the scuffles.
Tear gas was also used to break up hundreds of protesters in Arequipa.
Boluarte took over on December 7 as the South American country’s first woman president following the impeachment and arrest of Pedro Castillo after he tried to dissolve Congress and rule by decree.
Castillo, a leftist former rural school teacher and union leader, faced vehement opposition from Congress during his 18 months in office and had been the subject of numerous criminal investigations into allegations of widespread graft.
His ouster sparked nationwide protests, with the ombudsman reporting 22 people killed in clashes and more than 600 injured.
Boluarte’s government declared a 30-day nationwide state of emergency, while she attempted to calm the uproar by seeking to bring forward elections.
The demonstrations died down over the holiday period, but by Wednesday had remobilized.
Channels TV/ Titilayo Kupoliyi
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