Peru’s interim president, Manuel Merino, who has been in office for just under a week, announced his resignation on Sunday after a police crackdown on protesters on Saturday night left two people dead.
As president of Congress last Tuesday, Merino replaced former President Martín Vizcarra, who was impeached and ousted on corruption charges. Vizcarra denies the charges.
However, protesters also opposed Merino’s succession to the presidency, saying he was also suspected of corruption.
On Saturday, protests continued in the capital, Lima, and were largely peaceful during the day. In the evening, two men, aged 24 and 25, were killed in clashes between police and protesters. Medical officials said the two men died of gunshot wounds.
Twelve ministers in Merino’s newly appointed cabinet had announced their resignations earlier Sunday as a result of the violent police crackdown on the protests.
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