Peru families mourn after worst violence in decades

STORY: Peruvians in the southern region of Puno carried the coffins of the 17 civilians who died in recent protest through the streets on Wednesday (January 11) after the worst outbreak of violence in the country in over 20 years.

The country has been roiled by protests since the abrupt ouster of leftist President Pedro Castillo in early December.

At least 41 people have died so far - almost half in the city of Juliaca in Puno, including one police officer.

Peruvian flags and banners blaming the new government for the violence were seen amongst the crowd paying tribute to the dead.

My young daughter had so many futures ahead, said this mother of one of the victims. She wanted to visit many countries. She was a psychologist.

Protesters are calling for new President Dina Boluarte to resign, quick general elections, a new constitution and the release of Castillo, who was ousted and arrested for "rebellion" after trying to illegally shutter Congress.

On Wednesday a mission from the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) met Boluarte, whose government survived a confidence vote on Tuesday, to assess the crisis.

We will listen to different civil society organizations, victims’ relatives, said IACHR vice-president Edgar Stuardo Ralon. We’re starting the visit right now, so we will not anticipate anything before listening to as much as possible.

Ralon said the findings would be announced on January 13.

Boluarte is facing a preliminary investigation by state prosecutors over the deaths.

In a statement she said that she would give the commission all the support needed to find out what had happened.