Police and young anti-government protesters clashed in the Peruvian capital, Lima, over the weekend. A rights group said at least 18 protesters had been injured in protests held on Saturday and Sunday, dubbed Gen Z march by the organisers. A police officer suffered burns, officials said.
Groups of young people, mainly under 30, were joined by bus and taxi drivers and marched towards Congress to express their anger over corruption scandals and growing insecurity.
The protesters, some of whom threw stones and other missiles, were dispersed by police firing tear gas and rubber bullets, AFP news agency reported.
The protests first erupted on Saturday, triggered by a pension reform passed earlier this month under which young people will be required to pay into a private pension fund. The approval rating of the president, Dina Boluarte, has been in the single figures for months and many Peruvians say they want her to leave office.
We are marching against corruption, for life, and against the crime that is killing us every day, 28-year-old Adriana Flores told AFP.
Taxi and bus drivers say gangs threaten them into paying protection money, with some holding placards reading We demand a life without fear.
Once they reached the security barriers, they chanted national anthems and called for a total change in government, expressing their frustration over Congress members' salaries and actions.
Human rights advocates criticized the police response, stating the use of excessive force was unjustified.
The protests reflect a growing discontent with the current government and a demand for accountability and safety in Peru.
