Peruvian presidential cabinet resigns en masse

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When Alan Garcia was elected president of Peru in 2006, it was regarded as one of the biggest comebacks ever in South American politics. Garcia’s previous presidential tenure, from 1985 to 1990, had been scarred by economic chaos (inflation hit an incredible 7,600 percent) and the government’s inability to keep its violent conflict with the Maoist Shining Path guerrilla movement from deteriorating into a virtual civil war.

Garcia took office two years ago vowing to be a steadier leader than in the past. But, as the L.A. Times’ Patrick McDonnell reports, Garcia was forced to accept the resignation of his entire Cabinet on Friday ‘amid a sweeping bribery scandal that has rocked the government of a major U.S. ally.’

Equally worrisome are signs of resurgent violence. ‘As the corruption case was unfolding, authorities also said Friday that an attack by leftist rebels on a rural military convoy killed at least 14 soldiers and civilians, the deadliest such strike in years.’

-- Reed Johnson in Los Angeles