Peruvian protesters attempted to seize Xstrata Plc’s Tintaya copper mine in the southern Andes after clashes with police left 2 dead and wounded 44 others.

Mr Jose Antonio Chang cabinet chief of Peru said that police reinforcements will be sent to the Cuzco region tomorrow after 26 policemen were hurt by protesters throwing stones. Villagers concerned that the Majes Siguas II irrigation project will divert water supplies from local farming failed in their attempt to take over the Tintaya mine.

Mr Chang said that the government won’t begin a dialogue until the protests subside. We trust this will occur by tomorrow so we can avoid further trouble.

Ms Claire Divver spokeswoman of Xstrata said that Xstrata this year approved USD 5.7 billion in projects in Peru part of USD 41 billion in mining investment commitments in the Andean country over the next decade. Protests by farmers over water in the Andes in have delayed projects by Anglo American Plc, Southern Copper Corporation and Newmont Mining Corporation.

(Sourced from Bloomberg)