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Protests errupt in Lima's Puente Piedras district after Sundays elections

(LIP-wb) -- A large group of demonstrators yesterday attacked the facilities of City Hall in Puente Piedra, a northern disctrict of Peru's capital Lima. The enraged crowd considered the re-election of mayor Rennán Espinoza (Peru Posible) as irregular. Peru's regional and municipal elections were held last Sunday.

The protesters threw rocks, destroyed all windows and set the motorcycle of a security guard (serenazgo) on fire.

A contingent of 150 policemen tried to protected the premises until the violent crowd retreated. However, they remained in the vicinity and did not allow mayor Espinoza to leave his office.

In declarations to Radio RPP Noticias, Espinoza made his two political challengers, Esteban Monzón Fernandez and Miltón Jiménez Salazar, responsible of the attack.

“Both have headed this protest march. They brought a group of vandals to ignite violence”, he accused.

Espinoza vehemently denied the accusation that he gained is re-election on the basis of fraud or irregularities. “It was a fair election, as in many districts of Lima. There is a winner and people should respect the popular vote”, he said.

Army troops secure Peru's 2006 regional and municipal elections but they were not able to contain the violence afterwards

He added that he cannot understand as to why two people vying for the district's mayor's office would ignite such acts of violence that according to his estimations will costs more than 100,000 nuevo soles for repairs.

Nobody in Peru could foresee that the elections would trigger such a wave of violence which led to at least two deaths and more than 70 arrests.

Peru's Interior Ministry confirmed yesterday the death of the soldier Elmer Roque, who on Monday fell into a precipice after trying to escape a violent crowd denouncing election fraud in Chavin de Huántar, in the region of Ancash.

According to unconfirmed sources, a citizen died on Sunday evening during a protest in Cerro Azul, about 130 kilometers south of Lima.

- related articles -

- Mayor's office in San Martin, Peru set on fire (LIP, Nov. 20, 2006)

- read all articles about the elections

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