Demonstrators clash with the police during a new day of marches against the presidency of Dina Boluarte in Lima, Peru on Thursday. Thousands of protesters from various regions of Peru traveled again along the Pan-American Highway North of Lima, with the aim of reaching the historic center to demand the resignation of Boluarte. Antonio Melgarejo, EPA-EFE
LIMA — The government of Peru on Sunday expanded and prolonged a state of emergency to deal with a 2-month-old revolt against President Dina Boluarte that has claimed 48 lives in clashes between protesters and security forces.
Seven southern Peruvian regions -- Madre de Dios, Cusco, Puno, Apurimac, Arequipa, Moquegua and Tacna -- will fall under the measure, which will remain in place for 60 days, according to a notice in the government gazette.
On Jan. 13, the government had extended by 30 days a state of emergency for Lima, El Callao, Cusco and Puno.
With the new extension not covering the capital Lima, nor El Callao -- which hosts the country's main airport and maritime terminals -- the state of emergency there will expire in mid-February.
The measure authorizes the military to back up police actions to restore public order. It also suspends constitutional rights such as freedom of movement and assembly.
The decree provides for an 8:00 p.m. to 4:00 a.m. curfew for 10 days in the department of Puno, the epicenter of the anti-government demonstrations, where 18 civilians and a policeman died in clashes on Jan. 9.
Peru has been embroiled in a political crisis with near-daily demonstrations since Dec. 7, when then-president Pedro Castillo was arrested after attempting to dissolve Congress and rule by decree.
Roadblocks erected by protesters have caused shortages of food, fuel and other basic commodities in several regions of the Andean nation.
Demonstrators are demanding the dissolution of Congress, a new constitution, and the resignation of Boluarte, who as vice president took over with Castillo gone.
Several attempts to pass a bill through Peru's legislature to allow early elections have failed, the latest on Friday, which blocked any further debate on the topic until August.
This was followed on Saturday by violent street protests in central Lima.
The demonstrations are driven by poor southern, Indigenous Peruvians who perceive Castillo, who is also from humble origins and has Indigenous roots, as an ally in their fight against poverty, racism and inequality.
© Agence France-Presse