Peru declares emergency after 2 killed in protest [View all]

Source: Boston Globe (boston.com)



LIMA, Peru—Peru's government declared a 30-day state of emergency in a highland province on Monday after it said two people were killed and dozens of police officers injured in violent anti-mining protests.

Interior Minister Wilver Calle told a news conference that 30 police officers were hurt in clashes near Cuzco when protesters pummeled police with rocks and set fire to pasture.

The protesters claim the Tinaya copper mine owned by Swiss-based Xstrata plc is contaminating local water supplies and sickening farm animals.

Calle announced the deaths but did not explain how they occurred other than to say that police were forced to open fire on protesters in self-defense. He said 46 police officers had been hurt in protests on Sunday.

Read more: http://www.boston.com/news/world/latinamerica/articles/2012/05/28/peru_declares_emergency_after_2_killed_in_protest/