Peru protests: President Boluarte 'will not resign' despite weeks of violence - BBC

Peru's President Dina Boluarte has refused to measurement down contempt weeks of anti-government protests rocking the profoundly divided country.

"I volition not resign. My committedness is with Peru," she said successful a unrecorded televised code connected Friday night.

Violent clashes successful caller weeks person near dozens dormant and scores injured.

Ms Boluarte said she regretted deaths that happened during clashes with the information forces, but she insisted she would proceed arsenic leader.

The unit was triggered by the apprehension of the erstwhile president, Pedro Castillo successful December, aft helium attempted to suspend Congress aft losing an impeachment vote.

Mr Castillo's supporters person been demanding caller elections and calling for Ms Boluarte's removal.

But the president rejected the anticipation of calling a law assembly arsenic demanded by protestors, saying it could not hap overnight.

She has accused extremist factions of causing chaos, upset and demolition and bringing the state to a standstill.

Several members of Ms Boluarte's authorities resigned connected Friday, including the interior minister. The state besides saw a tenth consecutive time of clashes pursuing a caller twelvemonth lull.

Earlier successful the week, Peru's nationalist authoritative launched a preliminary probe into genocide allegations against Ms Boluarte relating to deaths of protestors successful the unrest.

The caput of US diplomacy for Latin America, Brian Nichols, wrote connected Twitter that Washington was "deeply acrophobic astir ongoing unit successful Peru and saddened by the injuries and deaths".

"We enactment bid connected each sides and the government's stated commitments to code the challenges gripping the country," helium added.

Guatemalan lawyer Stuardo Ralon called for an probe into allegations of excessive unit by the information forces.

Puno politician Richard Hancco, whose confederate section became the epicentre of clashes betwixt protesters and information forces, asked: "How galore much deaths volition Dina Boluarte's beingness successful the presidency cost?"

Mr Castillo, a erstwhile simple schoolhouse teacher who was forced retired of bureau successful December, has been remanded successful custody for 18 months for trying to dissolve Congress.

He is besides being investigated for fraud during his statesmanlike tenure.

Ms Boluarte, who was the vice-president nether Mr Castillo, called for each sides to cull unit and question compromise.