Hooded protesters confront police as Peruvians rally against President

Demonstrators clash with police during a protest against the decision of Congress to remove former President Martin Vizcarra, in Lima

Credit: Reuters

Thousands of Peruvians took to the streets again on Saturday in rallies against President Manuel Merino, while his interim government continued to defend as "constitutional" this week’s abrupt ouster of former president Martin Vizcarra.

Protesters jammed many plazas in downtown Lima in the afternoon, with demonstrations beginning peacefully but growing more intense by early evening.

Early in the day, in the central Plaza San Martín, hundreds of mostly young protesters unveiled a massive Peruvian flag and sang the national anthem. Later, a band of hooded protesters confronted police, throwing rocks and fireworks at them, and security forces fired back with tear gas.

The city echoed with sirens, shouts and chants of protesters demanding Mr Merino’s removal.

Earlier, Prime Minister Ántero Flores-Aráoz told reporters that Mr Vizcarra´s removal on corruption charges by the opposition-dominated Congress had been legal. He said Mr Merino had no intention of caving to demands from protesters that he resign.

Police try to disperse the demonstrators taking part in a massive protest march against the new government 

Credit: Cristian Olea/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock

"This was a constitutional change," Flores-Aráoz said. "We ask people for understanding. We don’t want to descend into chaos and anarchy."

Earlier this week, some of the largest protests in decades roiled Peru’s capital, with dozens injured in clashes between protesters and security forces. Police used tear gas and rubber bullets to tame the unrest, and humans rights groups said their use of force was excessive.

A protester holds a banner with the country's national color as police launch tear gas 

Credit: AP

"Given the situation, young people cannot be indifferent, we must demand respect," said Sonia Julca, an economist from the University of Callao. "The people are against this government led by Merino."

Mr Merino, a member of the center-right Popular Action party who had been the head of Congress, moved quickly to swear in a new cabinet this week after Mr Vizcarra was removed on Monday. He has called for calm and promised to stick with a plan for presidential elections in April.

Mr Vizcarra, a politically unaffiliated centrist who is popular with Peruvians, oversaw an anti-graft campaign that led to frequent clashes with Congress in a country that has a history of political upheaval and corruption.

The former president has yet to be found guilty of the corruption charges brought against him during the impeachment hearing prior to his ouster.