Peru eyes state of emergency; 40 wounded in clash (Updated)

UPDATES: Thousands of people across five provinces in Peru have protested against the government of Alan Garcia in the first major test of the Peruvian president's newly-installed cabinet. Protesters reportedly set fire to a police station and threatened politicians in San Martin on Wednesday.  People in Tacna and Moquegua held demonstrations to demand a share of the money the government is taking in taxation from local mines. In Cuzco province, demonstrators sought to block a mining company from using water from an electricity dam while in Cajamarca protesters marched to demand the construction of a new road.  Three police officers taken hostage in Moquegua were released earlier in the day. Dozens of people have been injured in clashes with riot police using tear gas during the unrest that began earlier this week.

Poverty issue: Garcia replaced his cabinet earlier this month following allegations of corruption in a bid to raise his approval rating, which has been around 20 per cent. Yehude Simon, a prominent leftist, was named prime minister in a move partly aimed at countering concerns that social programmes for the poor would not be a priority for his government. Around 40 per cent of Peruvians live in poverty and have seen little relief despite seven years of economic growth.  Critics say Garcia has not done enough during two years in office to fairly distribute wealth from mining exports. Simon, who was jailed for eight years in the 1990's over ties to the armed communist group Tupac Amaru, has said he would not tolerate violent demonstrations, and would only negotiate once public roads were unblocked. "If they want to talk, they can come talk. We aren't closing any democratic space," he said.  He told protesters in Moquegua that they would have to cede control of a captured bridge before congress would vote on a bill to devote more mining royalties to local authorities.  Antero Flores, Peru's defence minister, also said the government would not be forced into making concessions. "I think discipline must be imposed. Dialogue is important but not when a gun is aimed at your head," he said.

LIMA, Peru (AP) - Peru's Cabinet chief says the government may declare a state of emergency to subdue protests in four provinces including a violent clash that injured 40.
Yehude Simon says Peru may be forced to apply «the full weight of the law» in the provinces of Moquegua, Cuzco, San Martin and Cajamarca.
Canal N television reports that both police and civilians are among 40 people wounded Tuesday when riot officers clashed with protesters blocking a bridge in Moquegua. The demonstrators reportedly took four police officers captive.  Moquegua police did not answer repeated phone calls seeking to confirm the information. The protesters are demanding a bigger slice of regional mining revenues