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One dead as protests sweep Peru
27 Nov 2003 23:22:24 GMT
LIMA, Peru, Nov 27 (Reuters) - One man died and dozens were injured on Thursday in a clash with police in Peru's central Andes during a protest over an electricity privatization, Interior Minister Fernando Rospigliosi said.

Thousands of people in Junin, some 188 miles (300 km) east of Lima, took to the streets in a protest on Wednesday demanding the central government hand over $58 million from the electricity sale. The demonstration continued into Thursday.

"There are six police officers injured, one by rubber bullets. Unfortunately one of the demonstrators died, another three are injured and 12 police officers were beaten (by protesters)," Rospigliosi told reporters.

"There were irresponsible mayors who continued to incite road blocks this morning and attacked passengers on the buses that were stuck there. The police intervened to control the disturbances and received a torrent of stones and gunshots from these vandals," he said.

Peru has been swept by a wave of protests in recent days by people demanding President Alejandro Toledo, who has a popularity rating of around 16 percent, make good on his promises of reducing poverty and creating jobs.

In the latest tactic to draw attention to their plight, some 50 nursing auxiliaries stuck needles into their veins and dripped blood to demand Toledo meet his promise of doubling their pay, currently some $180 a month.

Hundreds of students at a non-fee-paying state university also demonstrated against what they called "arbitrary" charges imposed on them. Police on Wednesday calmed a protest at the university with tear gas and a water canon.


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