Death toll from Peru protests rises to 23

A protester was killed while clashing with police at the Ayacucho airport on Sunday, rising the death toll to 23.

“It is reported that, despite all the efforts of health personnel and doctors at the Regional Hospital of Ayacucho, one of the injured died early today,” the Regional Directorate of Health of Ayacucho said in a statement.

The Peruvian government declared a 30-day national emergency on Wednesday after protests erupted following the ousting and detention of President Pedro Castillo.

Castillo was ousted after his dismissal by Congress and arrest for having announced the dissolution of Congress, the intervention of the state apparatus, and the establishment of an "emergency government", which has been characterized as a self-coup attempt.

Among the main demands of the demonstrators are the dissolution of Congress, the resignation of the current president Dina Boluarte, new elections, the release of Pedro Castillo, and the installation of a constituent assembly. (ILKHA)