Peru president sacks government

[Eugene]

Last Updated: Friday, 12 August 2005, 00:41 GMT 01:41 UK

Peru president sacks government

Peru's President Alejandro Toledo has demanded all his ministers step
down following the resignation of Prime Minister Carlos Ferrero.

Mr Ferrero quit after the president named as foreign minister an ally
who has backed moves to make growing coca leaf legal in some areas.

Mr Toledo said he would evaluate which of his ministers would keep
their jobs.

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The BBC's Paul Keller in Miami says the resignations spell more trouble
for Mr Toledo, who has had dismal approval ratings since taking office
in 2001.

Mr Ferrero is a political heavyweight who had opposed Mr Olivera's
support for expanding legalised coca leaf growth, our correspondent
says, fearing it could fuel cocaine production in Peru.

Full article: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/4143828.stm

[bemildred]

1. Drug resurgence worries Peru

U.S. says cocaine problem improving; others disagree

LIMA, Peru – The cocaine trade is returning to Peru, and officials here are concerned that little help is on the way to fight on this front in the war on drugs.

Several recent studies, including one released last month by the U.N., indicate that cocaine is a booming business in Peru again. They mark increases in coca cultivation, cocaine production and drug seizures for 2004 after years of decline.

But White House statistics say the situation is not only under control but improving.

During the past five years, the U.S. has spent more than $5.4 billion on counter-drug efforts in the Andean region, with more than $3 billion of that earmarked for Colombia. Many experts have expressed concern that the years of concentrating interdiction and eradication efforts in Colombia are prompting a resurgence in the drug trade in Peru.

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