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Peru prime minister says to quit after clashes

Tue Jun 16, 2009 12:21pm EDT

LIMA, June 16 (Reuters) - Peruvian Prime Minister Yehude Simon said on Tuesday he plans to quit in the coming weeks, as the government of President Alan Garcia struggles to overcome deadly clashes between police and indigenous groups.

"Obviously, I am going to go for sure as soon as all is calm, in the coming weeks," he said on RPP radio.

Simon said he is working to persuade tribes to call off all the protests they have organized to force the government to repeal laws designed to attract foreign investment to mining, logging, and energy projects in the Amazon rain forest.

At least 34 people died in police raids ordered 11 days ago to break indigenous blockades of roads and rivers in the rain forest, in the worst crisis since Garcia took office in 2006. (Reporting by Teresa Cespedes and Terry Wade; Editing by Sandra Maler)



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