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    Peru roads blocked in trade protest
                March 24, 2008                      Peru roads blocked in trade protest. Al Jazeera. 2/18/2008.

At least one person has died as farmers blocked roads and railways across Peru in protest over a free trade deal with the United States, the government says.
               
            
Railways and roads, including the Pan-American highway, the major route on the Peruvian coast, were blocked with tree trunks, rocks and sand.



Rail services to the country's Machu Picchu site were also blocked on Monday, with about 400 travellers left stranded near the ancient Inca ruins, Peru's biggest tourist attraction.
 
Antolin Huascar, head of a national farmers group, said: "The government only listens to us when we strike."







Huascar said farmers would continue their protests until the government agrees to negotiate.

Police were able to reopen portions of some routes late on Monday, but travellers complained of protesters throwing rocks.

At least one person died, the government said.

Scepticism

Jorge del Castillo, the head of the cabinet, told reporters: "The government demands the protest be ended and roads be opened without having to resort to military force.


"The army and the police will act immediately if necessary."

 
Peru signed the free-trade agreement in December and plans to forge deals with China, Canada and Mexico soon.
 
The country's farmers, already angered by the rising cost of fertiliser, want debt relief and say the US trade deal will flood local markets with imports of subsidised US agricultural goods.
 
But the Peruvian government says the trade pact will give farmers access to the US market.
 
Alan Garcia, the Peruvian president, is pushing free trade as a way to lift incomes in a country where about 12 million people live in poverty despite living in one of the world's fastest growing economies.