Demonstrators attack airport: riots continue in Peru Britain is looking for partners in Africa, Asia and America

According to a statement from the airport and airline Corpac, quoted by Peruvian media, 50 police officers and Corpac employees were taken hostage at the airport in the city of Andahuaylas on Sunday. According to media reports, the rioters demanded, among other things, the resignation of the new president Dina Boluarte and new elections.

According to the operator, the fuel depot and communication room at the airport have been set on fire. The runway and key equipment were also hit hard by violence and vandalism, it said. The airport in the southern city of some 50,000 residents was closed – secured by an elite unit, according to police. For the second day in a row, there have been clashes between protesters and police in the area.

According to media reports, protesters blocked highways in other parts of the South American country. There were demonstrations in several cities, including the capital Lima. Fighting broke out during a session of Congress on Sunday. A deputy from ex-President Pedro Castillo’s former left-wing party, Perú Libre, punched a colleague in the face, videos showed.

Former Vice President Boluarte succeeded Castillo as head of state and government on Wednesday. Shortly before a vote of no confidence against himself, he had announced the dissolution of Congress. Parliament subsequently removed him from office and on Thursday the former teacher at a left-wing village school was taken into custody on charges of rebellion. On Saturday, Boluarte, Peru’s first female president, took the oath in her cabinet and made ministers swear that they were not corrupt. (sda/dpa)