Anti-Boluarte protests continue, mourners prepare to bury dead: Peru

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Peruvian street barricades and anti-government marches continued on Thursday, as mourners prepared to bury the bodies of 17 people killed in clashes between security forces and demonstrators in the movement's epicenter.

It comes as trade unions, left-wing parties, and social collectives prepare to march through Lima, the capital, to condemn a "racist and classist... dictatorship."

Supporters of ousted President Pedro Castillo are calling for new elections and the ouster of incumbent President Dina Boluarte.

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Protests erupted across the South American country in early December, after Castillo was removed from office.

The demonstrations left 41 people dead so far, including a police officer.

Almost half of those killed were killed in clashes on Monday night in the southern Puno region, where 17 people were scheduled to be buried on Thursday.

Important tourism regions such as Cusco and Arequipa have also seen major protests.

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The latest protester killed in violent clashes was in Cusco on Wednesday night, when vandals vandalized a major hotel chain's building, set fire to a bus station, attacked shops, and blocked train tracks with large rocks.

Cusco is the former Inca empire's capital and the gateway to Peru's crown jewel, the ancient Inca citadel Machu Picchu.

According to Peru's rights ombudsman, more than 50 people were injured in the Cusco clashes, including 19 police officers, and police said they arrested 11 people.

Roadblocks remain in 10 of the country's 25 departments, the transport superintendency said. Boluarte, 60, was Castillo's Vice President but took over once he was ousted on December 7.