Peru protests: President calls for 'truce' after clashes

Peru's President Dina Boluarte has called for a "national truce" aft protests that person rocked the state since her predecessor Pedro Castillo was ousted connected 7 December.

Following her speech, thousands of radical marched successful the capital, Lima, demanding she resign.

Ms Boluarte was sworn successful aft Mr Castillo was impeached pursuing his failed effort to dissolve Congress.

More than 50 radical person died successful the consequent unrest.

Hours aft Ms Boluarte called for dialog and urged calm, thousands of protesters clashed with constabulary who fired teardrop gas. Some protesters threw rocks astatine the information forces.

There were shouts of "Boluarte, murderer", referring to the dozens of Peruvians who person been killed successful confrontations with the police.

In her speech, President Boluarte said "radical groups with a governmental and economical docket rooted successful cause trafficking, amerciable mining and smuggling" had incited Peruvians to protest.

She added that she supported the close to protestation but rejected violence: "I, too, person marched arsenic portion of conscionable fights for labour and pupil rights, but protests can't beryllium accompanied by violence, demolition and death."

The president besides alleged that galore of those who had died had not been changeable by constabulary by by chap demonstrators.

"The deaths occurred not wherever constabulary were but successful adjacent streets," she said.

However, Peru's ombudsman has said that of the 56 radical who person died successful the unrest, 46 radical were killed successful nonstop clashes with the information forces.

The authorities has been accused of utilizing excessive unit successful its efforts to quell the protests.

Speaking astatine a acme of Latin American and Caribbean leaders successful Argentina connected Tuesday, the president of neighbouring Chile, Gabriel Boric, said "we can't beryllium indifferent contiguous erstwhile successful our sister federation Peru, radical who spell retired to march and request what they see to beryllium fair, extremity up changeable by those who should support them".

But Peru's justness curate insisted connected Wednesday that his authorities had responded "appropriately" to the protests.

"Actions taken to reconstruct nationalist bid person been undertaken successful afloat compliance with law and planetary obligations," helium said successful a video code to the United Nations Human Rights Council successful Geneva.

Many of those protesting are demanding the resignation of Ms Boluarte, who was Pedro Castillo's vice-president and who came to powerfulness aft Mr Castillo was impeached by Congress pursuing his failed effort to dissolve it.

Mr Castillo is successful pre-trial detention facing charges of rebellion and caller statesmanlike elections person been scheduled for April 2024.

President Boluarte has said she hopes Congress volition hold to clasp the predetermination earlier than April 2024 but she has ruled retired resigning earlier those are held.