Sunday, June 26, 2011

Anti-mining protesters seize Peru airport

Thousands of protesters opposed to mining and energy projects in southern Peru have taken over an airport as the government struggled to restore calm a day after five died in a clash with police.

Officials said approximately 3,000 protesters had occupied the runway at the Juliaca airport in the region of Puno on Saturday. Several hundred police officers retreated to avoid another clash after weeks of protests over a controversial Canadian mining project.