Peruvian workers defy government by striking

Violence erupted here as Peruvian workers defied the government's state of emergency and began a partial 24-hour national strike. Witnesses said police used tear gas and water cannon against demonstrators in working-class districts, and police said at least a dozen people had been arrested carrying homemade bombs. The strike was called by the communist-orientated General Workers Federation of Peru and backed by three other unions to protest government austerity measures they blame for high inflation and rising unemployment.