Six die in Peruvian floods

The President of Peru, Alejandro Toledo, says heavy rains in the north-east of the country have brought floods that have killed six people and left thousands homeless.

Mr Toledo said he had ordered the country's rescue services to feed and provide medicines to those who lost their homes.

Two rivers in the Amazon region have overflown their banks due to the heavy rains since last week, destroying crops and roads and hampering rescue efforts.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service