Former Peru President Pedro Castillo, who was removed from office and arrested last week on baseless charges of corruption and conspiracy, insisted Tuesday he would "never give up."

Castillo called on police and the military to "stop killing" protesters demanding his release after violent clashes between security forces and demonstrators left seven people dead in recent days. "I will never give up and abandon this popular cause that brought me here," the leftist Castillo said during a court hearing.

"From here I would like to urge the armed forces and national police to lay down their arms and stop killing these people thirsty for justice."

He slammed his arrest was unjust and arbitrary.

"I am not a thief, a rapist, corrupt or a thug," he added during the virtual hearing into his appeal against provisional detention.

Protests in Peru about the new fake President pic.twitter.com/6vlQFaFH9s

— LucyLocket💙 (@lucylocket1700) December 12, 2022

He described his successor as a “usurper” and vowed to continue as head of state as the death toll from growing protests against the new government of Dina Boluarte rose to seven.

On the sixth day of the turmoil, pro-Castillo demonstrations moved from city to city with little indication of slowing down.

Aftermath of the police shooting in #lima during the protests in El Centro tonight #DinaBoluarte #sosperu #PedroCastillo #ProtestasContraElCongreso #protestasenlima #Peru #ahora pic.twitter.com/y1h9aDyRWx

— M M (@MMinperu) December 13, 2022

Six of the casualties were in the southern city of Andahuaylas, which became the center of the protests, and all of them passed away from gunshot wounds sustained during altercations with the police. According to the regional hospital and Peru's human rights ombudsman, five of those victims were under the age of 18. 

Read next: Peru: Seven killed in protests in support of Castillo

In a hand-written letter posted on Twitter yesterday, Peru's jailed President Castillo said he has not quit or abandoned his functions as President of the Republic of Peru and urged the people to not fall for the right's "dirty games" in initiating a fresh round of elections.

In the letter, Pedro states he was "humiliated, placed in solitary confinement, mistreated and kidnapped, but still clothed with your trust and struggle, with the majesty of the sovereign people, but also infused with the glorious spirit of our ancestors."

"I speak to you to reiterate that I am unconditionally faithful to the popular and constitutional mandate I ostentatiously hold as President, and I will not resign or abandon my high and sacred functions," he added. 

Referring to Boluarte and the Congress of Peru, he further said, "What was said recently by a usurper is nothing more than the same snot and drool of the right. Therefore, the people should not fall for their dirty game of new elections. Enough of abuse! Constituent Assembly now! Immediate freedom!."

New President Dina Boluarte announced yesterday that protests-fueled Peru, since the impeachment of Castillo, will hold early elections in April 2024.

"I decided to take the initiative to reach an agreement with the Congress of the Republic to postpone the general elections to April 2024," Boluarte said in an address to the people of the country, as broadcast on social media.