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LIMA, Peru — President Alan Garcia labored Saturday to contain Peru’s worst political violence in years, as nine more police officers were killed in a bloody standoff with Amazon Indians fighting his efforts to exploit oil and gas on their native lands.
The new deaths brought to 22 the number of police killed since forces moved Friday to break up a roadblock where 5,000 protesters gathered.
Protest leaders said at least 30 Indians, including three children, died in the clashes. Authorities said they could confirm only nine civilian deaths.
“The government was required to take these measures, not only for the president of the republic but for all 28 million Peruvians,” Cabinet chief Yehude Simon said of breaking up the protests.
