THE government of Peru has expanded and prolonged a state of emergency to deal with a two-month-old revolt against President Dina Boluarte that has claimed 48 lives in clashes between protesters and security forces.

The move on Sunday saw seven southern Peruvian regions — Madre de Dios, Cusco, Puno, Apurimac, Arequipa, Moquegua and Tacna — being brought under the measure.

The arrangements are set to remain in place for 60 days, according to a notice in the government gazette.

The measure authorises the military to back up police actions to restore public order. It also suspends constitutional rights such as freedom of movement and assembly.

The decree provides for an 8pm to 4am curfew for 10 days in the department of Puno, the epicentre of the anti-government demonstrations, where 18 civilians and a policeman died in clashes on January 9.

Peru has been embroiled in a political crisis with near-daily demonstrations since December 7, when then-president Pedro Castillo was arrested and Ms Boluarte appointed by the Congress.

Roadblocks erected by protesters have caused shortages of food, fuel and other basic commodities in several regions of the Andean nation.

Demonstrators are demanding the dissolution of Congress, a new constitution, the resignation of Ms Boluarte and Mr Castillo’s release from detention.

Several attempts to pass a Bill through Peru’s legislature to allow early elections have failed, the latest on Friday, which blocked any further debate on the topic until August.

This was followed on Saturday by street protests in central Lima which were subjected to a brutal clampdown by the authorities.

The demonstrations are driven by poor southern, indigenous Peruvians who perceive former trade union leader Mr Castillo, who is also from humble origins and has indigenous roots, as an ally in their fight against poverty, racism and inequality.