Peru names new prime minister
LIMA - Peru is to swear in a new prime minister on Sunday after bitter violence in the country's northern Amazon region forced the incumbent to resign, officials said.
Parliament speaker Javier Velasquez has been tapped to take over from Yehude Simon, who leaves office as the government tries to draw a line under Amazon bloodshed which left at least 34 people dead.
"With Velasquez a new stage for the council of ministers will begin," Minister of Interior Mercedes Cabanillas told local media on Saturday.
Yehude became a lightning rod for criticism of the government's crackdown on indigenous protesters who had barricaded a major road, calling for land rights in the Amazon river basin.
The government sent in troops to break up the demonstrations, with bloody results, leaving leftist and conservative groups baying for Simon's censure.
The resignation was an embarrassing political blow for President Alan Garcia, who until days ago expressed his confidence in Simon but who will now have his third prime minister in three years.
But with the president facing disapproval ratings of 67 percent, according to one poll, many commentators saw Simon's position as untenable.
The 49-year-old Velasquez will be sworn in during a ceremony at 8:00 pm on Sunday (0100 GMT Monday).
- AFP /ls
Javier Velásquez, head of Peru’s legislature has been named as Prime Minister by President Alan Garcia. Velásquez is from the President's party, APRA, and replaces Yehude Simon as Prime Minister after Simon resigned on July 10. Simon resigned due to a crisis over indigenous land rights which caused 34 deaths, the worst violence Peru has seen in 20 years. 
President Alan Garcia  
Along with Velásquez’s new role President Garcia has also reshuffled the cabinet and named seven new ministers. Former police chief Octavio Salazar has been named as interior minister.

Opposition Congressman Fredy Otarola has criticized Velásquez, claiming “Velásquez is more of the same” and that he does not "represent change."

Garcia, whose presidency runs out in 2011, has faced several tough years. According to the Agence France-Presse, Peru has gone from a economic strength to a weakness and Garcia also has record disapproval figures, with 67 percent of those polled having a negative opinion of him.