Peru Prez urges oppn's cooperation in confronting Covid-19

Lima, Dec 10 (IANS) Peru's Interim President Francisco Sagasti has urged the country's opposition leaders to put aside differences and work with the government to overcome the ongoing Covid-19 crisis.The call for unity came during a ceremony on Wednesday marking the 196th anniversary of the Battle of Ayacucho, in the Andean region of Ayacucho, located 554 km southeast of the Peruvian capital Lima."Victory always requires the decisive, determined and joint effort of all Peruvians," Xinhua news agency quoted Sagasti as saying at the ceremony. "We have to fight together," the interim leader addedAmid a political turmoil in Peru which was triggered by the impeachment of former President Martin Vizcarra earlier this month and followed by the resignation of his successor Manuel Merino, the country's Congress had elected Sagasti as the new interim leader on November 16.Sagasti's appointment came a day after Merino, who was appointed following Vizcarra's impeachment on November 9, resigned following widespread protests that broke out across the country after he assumed the post.The political turmoil came at a time as the country was dealing with an ongoing economic crisis as well as the coronavirus pandemic.The pandemic has so far infected more than 974,000 people in the country, one of the hardest-hit in South America, while 36,274 others have lost their lives.
--IANS ksk/