Students protest in Peru

Students clash with anti-riot police on the streets of Lima

Hundreds of students in Peru have clashed with police in the streets of Lima during a massive rally to protest against President Alberto Fujimori's inauguration. Fujimori was today sworn in for a third term. But his popularity rating has faded a little to 43%.

Since Wednesday tens of thousands of Peruvians have been making their way to Lima to take part in mass demonstrations outside the Congress.

The students tried to make their way to the presidential palace when they were intercepted by police in full anti-riot gear. They pelted police with rocks and sticks and set fire to banners while police responded by using tear gas.

The march was led by opposition candidate Alejandro Toledo, who alleged fraud after defeat in April's first-round vote. He boycotted the May 28 runoff in which Fujimori ran unopposed to secure a third straight term after a decade of autocratic rule.

Sixty-one-year-old Fujimori, a former academic whose democratic credentials have been questioned since he took special powers to defeat leftist guerrillas with his 1992 "self coup", said on Wednesday his police would behave "impeccably".

No injuries or arrests were reported. - Reuters