Peru late Wednesday declared a 30-day state of emergency in its south after violent protests in the city of Tacna that left 20 people hurt and 35 in police custody. The measure, announced by Prime Minister Yehude Simon after an extraordinary cabinet meeting, will see soldiers and police take over the city, which lies close to the border with Chile.
"The government has declared a state of emergency for 30 days in Tacna because of the acts of violence," he said. The decision came after a day of protests that degenerated into attacks on a municipal building in a suburb of the city. A mob set fire to the building to protest the death of a demonstrator last weekend.
Last week, a crowd vented fury at another public building in the city. A strike is underway in Tacna to protest a vote by congress to modify a law that would redistribute tax revenues from a giant mining company, Southern Peru, in favour of residents in the neighbouring region of Moquegua.