Riots in Peru's Amazon

Rioting broke out in northern Peru on Friday after two months of fuel and transport blockades, and at least 30 indigenous protesters and 24 police officers have been killed. The indigenous tribes want to force Congress to repeal laws that encourage foreign mining in the rainforest.

According to the BBC (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/8088350.stm): "The violence erupted on Friday after 2,500 Indians - many of them carrying spears and machetes - protested over government plans to drill for gas and oil in what they consider their ancestral lands."

While the situation remains serious in this region, it is not affecting other regions of Peru and tourism has not been disrupted in any way.

We'll try to follow up with more information on the issues behind this violence as we learn more.