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Agencies: Clashes in Peru leave more than 30 dead

Other News Materials 9 June 2009 02:42 (UTC +04:00)

Peruvian officials ordered the arrest Monday of 36 suspects in connection with clashes between indigenous citizens and the national police that left more than 30 people dead since Friday, the state-run news agency Andina reported.

The violence started when police attacked a roadblock near the city of Bagua, in the Amazonian part of northwestern Peru. About 2,500 indigenous people had blocked the main road to protest measures the government has taken to sell land to energy companies. Indians native to the area say that is their land even though they don't have formal property titles, CNN reported.

The government has not released exact figures, but according to Amnesty International more than 30 demonstrators and 22 police have been killed since Friday. The Web site for RPP radio and El Comercio newspaper said at least 33 people died.

More than 50 people have been injured, various reports said.

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