Around the World: Peru

Leftist PM named

Peruvian President Alan Garcia chose a provincial governor as his new prime minister on Saturday, a day after firing his entire Cabinet over a widening oil and gas contract scandal.

By picking Yehude Simon, governor of the northern province of Lambayeque who was jailed a decade ago for links to a guerrilla group, the increasingly unpopular Garcia may be trying to place greater emphasis on social programs, and regain support in the provinces.