Peru suspends Canada mining concession after riots

LIMA (AFP) ?€" Peru's government took legal steps Saturday to suspend a Canadian company's silver mining concession in the wake of deadly protests by mostly indigenous anti-mining demonstrators, authorities said.

The government enacted five laws including revocation of the concession granted to Bear Creek Mining Corporation, which has been a focus of protests that turned deadly on Friday, when five activists were killed as riot police fired tear gas and live ammunition to keep them from storming an airport.

Prime Minister Rosario Fernandez said the new laws, published in the official gazette El Peruano and which include a 36-month halt to all new mining concessions in Puno department, are aimed at satisfying the demands of the locals opposed to mining activity in the region, state news agency Andina said.

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