Genocide investigation opened against Peru president after protest deaths

Forty people have been killed during a month of protests, with the UN Human Rights office calling for impartial investigations into the deaths

Peru's top prosecutor's office said it has launched an inquiry into new president Dina Boluarte and members of her cabinet to investigate allegations of genocide after violent clashes that have seen at least 40 killed and hundreds injured since early December.

The new government, however, won a vote of confidence in Congress by a wide margin on Tuesday evening. A loss would have triggered a cabinet reshuffle and the resignation of prime minister Alberto Otarola.