Dina Boluarte assumed the presidency after Pedro Castillo tried to illegally dissolve Congress and was arrested

The Peruvian president, Dina Boluarte, who has said she is leading a transitional government, urged the country’s Congress to pass a proposal to bring forward general elections in a news conference from the presidential palace on Saturday.

Boluarte, formerly Peru’s vice-president, assumed the presidency earlier this month after ex-president Pedro Castillo tried to illegally dissolve Congress and was arrested.

Education and culture ministers resign following ongoing unrest that has seen at least 17 people killed

Pressure rose on Peru’s fledgling government as two cabinet members resigned following deadly protests that have rocked the country since former president Pedro Castillo’s removal from office and arrest last week.

Education minister Patricia Correa and culture minister Jair Perez announced their resignations on Twitter on Friday, citing the deaths of individuals during the unrest.

Country’s human rights office calls for armed forces to cease the use of firearms and teargas

Judges in Peru have ruled that former president Pedro Castillo be held in preventive detention for 18 months pending trial on charges of rebellion and conspiracy for his attempt to shutter congress and rule by decree, as the death toll from a week of violent protests sparked by his ousting rose to at least 15.

A judicial panel in the supreme court ordered the extended period of pre-trial detention for Castillo as prosecutors continued an investigation into criminal charges against him. The decision did not touch on the merits of accusations faced by Castillo but the panel cited the risk of flight by the deposed president.

Measure will suspend free movement over Christmas holidays as supporters of ousted Pedro Castillo take to the streets

• What is happening in Peru and why are people so angry?

Peru’s new government has declared a 30-day national state of emergency to quell violent demonstrations which have shaken the country following the ousting and arrest of President Pedro Castillo a week ago.

The measure announced on Wednesday suspends the right to gather and move freely across the entire country – and comes just before the Christmas holidays when people typically travel extensively to visit family.

Ousted president calls successor Dina Boluarte the ‘snot and slobber of the coup-mongering right’ in a letter written behind bars

Ousted Peruvian president Pedro Castillo has derided his successor as a “usurper”, and vowed to continue as head of state as the death toll from growing protests against the new government of Dina Boluarte rose to seven.

Demonstrations in support of Castillo spread from city to city on the sixth day of unrest, with widespread vandalism and looting showing little sign of abating.

Dina Boluarte, Peru’s first female head of state, seeks to steady nation after turbulent 17-month rule of ousted Pedro Castillo

Peru’s newest president, Dina Boluarte, swore in her cabinet on Saturday just three days after becoming the country’s first female head of state, and asked each minister to pledge not to be corrupt while in office.

The 17 ministers picked by Boluarte, who on Wednesday was elevated from vice-president to replace the ousted Pedro Castillo as the country’s leader, will be key to further inflaming or calming a South American country experiencing a seemingly endemic political crisis.

Court expected to decide if Pedro Castillo will be held in preliminary detention after failed attempt to close congress

Peru’s ousted president Pedro Castillo has appeared in court to face charges of rebellion and conspiracy as his successor, Dina Boluarte, the country’s first female leader, pledged to set Peru on a new course and called a truce after months of political turmoil.

Castillo looked sombre during Thursday’s hearing, giving simple yes or no answers, while his lawyer argued that he had been arbitrarily detained and forced from Peru’s presidency on trumped-up charges.