THE move by appointed president Dina Boluarte to hold early elections in Peru has failed to stop the protests against the “coup” that removed Pedro Castillo from office.

The protesters are insisting that they do not just want presidential elections: they want to see a vote for all members of a congress that has locked up the leftwinger the people elected last year.

Hours after Ms Boluarte’s announcement on Monday, protesters in Arequipa swarmed the international airport there. State media reported about 100 police officers were deployed to remove the demonstrators.