LIMA, July 19 (Reuters) - Thousands of anti-government protesters took to the streets in Peru on Wednesday, part of a new round of marches organized by groups opposed to President Dina Boluarte's eight-month-old administration, as police deployed to guard government offices.
Many Peruvians accuse Boluarte and her allies of illegitimately removing and jailing her leftist predecessor Pedro Castillo, which led to angry and sometimes violent protests through last March that claimed 67 lives.
Some 24,000 police officers were deployed throughout the country, according to officials, as authorities braced for a so-called "third takeover of Lima."
Ground transport officials said protesters blocked six highways by early afternoon on Wednesday, mostly in southern Arequipa and Cusco regions.
Peru, the world's second-largest copper producer, could also face disruptions along its key mining corridor, where according to environmental groups, communities will support the protests.
Persons:
Dina Boluarte's, Boluarte, Pedro Castillo, Roger Perez, Jorge Pizarro, Marco Aquino, Sarah Morland, Alexander Villegas, Will Dunham, Josie Kao
Organizations:
Local, Police, Congress, Thomson
Locations:
LIMA, Peru, Lima, Arequipa, Cusco, Huancavelica, Puno