La presidenta del Perú, Dina Boluarte, s'ha negat a dimitir malgrat setmanes de protestes antigovernamentals que sacsegen el país profundament dividit.

"No dimitiré. El meu compromís és amb el Perú", va dir divendres a la nit en un discurs televisat en directe.

Els enfrontaments violents de les últimes setmanes han deixat desenes de morts i desenes de ferits.

Ms Boluarte said she regretted deaths that happened during clashes with the security forces, but she insisted she would continue as leader.

The violence was triggered by the arrest of the former president, Pedro Castillo in December, after he attempted to suspend Congress after losing an impeachment vote.

Mr Castillo's supporters have been demanding new elections and calling for Ms Boluarte's removal.

But the president rejected the possibility of calling a constitutional assembly as demanded by protestors, saying it could not happen overnight.

She has accused radical factions of causing chaos, disorder and destruction and bringing the country to a standstill.

Several members of Ms Boluarte's government resigned on Friday, including the interior minister. The country also saw a tenth consecutive day of clashes following a new year lull.

Earlier in the week, Peru's public prosecutor launched a preliminary investigation into genocide allegations against Ms Boluarte relating to deaths of protestors in the unrest.

The head of US diplomacy for Latin America, Brian Nichols, wrote on Twitter that Washington was "deeply concerned about ongoing violence in Peru and saddened by the injuries and deaths".

"We support peace on all sides and the government's stated commitments to address the challenges gripping the country," he added.

Guatemalan lawyer Stuardo Ralon called for an investigation into allegations of excessive force by the security forces.

El governador de Puno, Richard Hancco, el departament del sud del qual es va convertir en l'epicentre dels enfrontaments entre manifestants i forces de seguretat, va preguntar: "Quants morts més costarà la presència de Dina Boluarte a la presidència?"

Castillo, un antic professor de primària que va ser obligat a deixar el càrrec al desembre, ha estat detingut durant 18 mesos per intentar dissoldre el Congrés.

També està sent investigat per frau durant el seu mandat presidencial.

Boluarte, que va ser la vicepresidenta de Castillo, va demanar a totes les parts que rebutgin la violència i cerquin un compromís.