Peruvian President Alejandro Toledo declared a 30-day state of emergency late Tuesday to restore the public order amid the nationwide strike by teachers and farmers.
The government has given police and the military the authority to use force to clear the highways and restore order.
"We have the responsibility to govern 26 million Peruvians. We have the responsibility to protect citizens and the public order,'' Toledo said in a national address late Tuesday.
He also reiterated that the schools would be reopened and the traffic would be restored in the days to come.
The state of emergency suspends civil liberties and gives police the authority to detain protesters and enter private residences to round up their leaders without warrants.
Toledo's message came after state health workers went on a nationwide strike Tuesday, joining thousands of teachers and judiciary workers protesting throughout the country for higher wages.
Of the current group of protesters, the teachers have been at it the longest, opening their strike on May 12 in their demand for higher pay. Teachers currently earn about US$190 a month. The government has offered to raise their salaries by about US$30 a month, but the teachers said it is not enough.
(Xinhua News Agency May 28, 2003)
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