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At least 20 injured in clash with police in Peru
(Xinhua)
Updated: 2008-12-10 10:01

LIMA -- At least 20 people were injured Tuesday during a protest against the mayor of a northern Peruvian city, local media reported.

The injuries occurred when about 2,000 residents in Juanjui, San Martin province, staged a protest against Mayor Walter Hildebrandt, whom they accused of embezzling municipal funds and not doing "any public work" in the past two years.

About 200 protestors occupied the Municipal Palace before a clash with police. At least 20 people were injured in the encounter.

The protestors were still occupying the Municipal Palace while Hildebrandt took cover at a police station.

Cesar Villanueva, president of San Martin province, told local radio station Radio Programs del Peru that the residents overreacted when questioning the work of the municipal government.

He urged them to be calm and start a dialogue with the municipal government.