Protesters unleash terror in demonstration against Peruvian president.
At least one person died and dozens were injured during a protest in the South American country. Video
LIMA (Reuters) - At least one person died and dozens were injured during a protest against Peru's interim president José Jerí, the Public Defender's Office reported on Thursday, in the first major citizen demonstration after the abrupt change of government last week.
Public Defender Fernando Losada reported the death of a 32-year-old man "as a result of a situation that will be investigated" during the protest in Lima on Wednesday night, in which there were clashes between police and demonstrators.
President Jeri lamented the citizen's death and said, via the social network X, that he hopes "the investigations will objectively determine the facts and responsibilities."
Jeri had previously reported that up to 55 police officers and 22 civilians were injured in the protest, which demanded measures against rising crime, the closure of Congress, and even political reforms, such as a new constituent assembly.
"The police cameras and the @MuniLima (Municipality of Lima) will be used to identify the criminals who infiltrated a peaceful demonstration to create chaos. The full weight of the law will be applied to them," said the president.
Thousands of people took to the streets in several cities across the country in protests just days after the ouster of President Dina Boluarte, who was replaced by Jerí, who, as head of Congress, was first in the line of succession.
In Lima, hundreds of protesters gathered near the front of the Peruvian capital's Legislative Palace, and a group attempted to tear down the metal security fences, burning flags and plastic objects, prompting police to intervene with tear gas to disperse the crowd.
Some protesters responded with stones and fireworks during the protest, which was called for on social media by civil groups, unions, and young people from the so-called Generation Z, who had previously protested demanding the resignation of the now former president Boluarte.
On Tuesday, Jerí named his cabinet of ministers, led by former judge and conservative politician Ernesto Álvarez. This is the "transition and reconciliation" team, the government said, six months before the presidential elections.
(Reporting by Marco Aquino)
