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WORLD NEWS Monday 16 noveMber 2020

Peru's interim president resigns as chaos embroils nation

By FRANKLIN BRICEÑO and Congress scheduled an to 2000.
CHRISTINE ARMARIO emergency session for Sun- Congress kicked Vizcarra
Associated Press day afternoon to select a out using a clause dating
LIMA, Peru (AP) — Peru's new president. Meanwhile, back to the 19th century
interim president resigned ex-President Martín Vizcar- that allows the powerful
Sunday as the nation ra – whose ouster sparked legislature to remove a
plunged into its worst con- the upheaval – called on president for "permanent
stitutional crisis in two de- the country's highest court moral incapacity." Legisla-
cades following massive to step in. tors accused Vizcarra of
protests unleashed when "It can't be that the institu- taking more than $630,000
Congress ousted the na- tion that got us into this po- in bribes in exchange for
tion's popular leader. litical crisis, that has for five two construction contracts
In a short televised ad- days paralyzed Peru, with while governor of a small
dress, Manuel Merino said deaths, is going to give us a province years ago.
Congress acted within the solution, choosing the per- Prosecutors are investigat-
law when he was sworn son who they best see fit," ing the allegations but A protester comes to the aid of a Televisa journalist injured
into office as chief of state Vizcarra said. Vizcarra has not been during clashes with police who launched tear gas to disperse
Tuesday, despite protesters' Peru has much at stake: The charged. He has vehe- protesters gathered in Plaza San Martin to demonstrate their
allegations that legislators country is in the throes of mently denied the accusa- refusal to recognize Peru's new government, in Lima, Saturday,
Nov. 14, 2020.
had staged a parliamen- one of the world's most le- tions. Associated Press
tary coup. thal coronavirus outbreaks Merino, previously head
The politician agreed to and political analysts say of Congress, stepped in as are themselves under in- groups reported that 112
step down after night of the constitutional crisis has interim president, but his vestigation for alleged people were hurt in Sat-
unrest in which two young cast the country's democ- six-day rule was marred by crimes including money urday's protests and the
protesters were killed and racy into jeopardy. constant protests. The little- laundering and homicide. whereabouts of 41 others
half his Cabinet resigned. "I think this is the most seri- known politician and rice Polls show most wanted Viz- were unknown. Health au-
Peruvians cheered the de- ous democratic and hu- farmer promised to keep carra to carry out the rest of thorities said the dead in-
cision, waving their nation's man rights crisis we have in place a scheduled vote his presidential term, due to cluded Jack Pintado, 22,
red and white flag on the seen since Fujimori," said for a new president in April. expire in July. As Peruvians who was shot 11 times, in-
streets of Lima and chant- analyst Alonso Gurmendi That did little to sway Peru- took to the streets, police cluding in the head, and
ing "We did it!" But there is Dunkelberg, referring to the vians who were loath to ac- responded with batons, Jordan Sotelo, 24, who was
still no clear playbook for turbulent rule of strongman cept him. rubber bullets and tear gas. hit four times in the thorax
what comes next. Alberto Fujimori from 1990 Half of those in Congress A network of human rights near his heart.q