Clashes between police and protesters opposed to a US company's plans to build a five billion US dollar gold mine in Peru.
Four people have died in the last two days as the protests turned violent.
Seen here, left-wing leader Marco Arana, a soft-spoken former Roman Catholic priest who has rallied demonstrators to stop construction of the mine, said he was beaten by police as they arrested him.
Arana's critics blame him for inciting violence at a rally on Tuesday where protesters threw rocks and vandalized public buildings.
Critics of President Ollanta Humala, however, say the government and police forces have suspended the freedom of assembly.
On Wednesday, Prime Minister Oscar Valdes announced a 30-day state of emergency for the country.
The Humala government says the mine would generate thousands of jobs and huge tax revenues.
Protesters say it would cause pollution, contaminate water supplies and fail to bring local economic benefits.
Sarah Sheffer, Reuters
