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Page last updated at 21:36 GMT, Sunday, 19 August 2007 22:36 UK

Quake survivors berate president

Demonstration in Pisco
The protesters said they were suffering and had received no help

Peruvian President Alan Garcia has encountered demonstrations by survivors of last week's earthquake as he toured one of the worst affected areas.

The tremor left at least 500 people dead and thousands homeless in the Ica region, south of the capital Lima.

The president visited the ruins of a church in the main square of Pisco, and vowed to rebuild the port city.

About 100 people were held back by soldiers as they shouted at Mr Garcia that they had received no aid.

The BBC's Dan Collyns, in Pisco, says that as the clamour from protestors rose, Mr Garcia made a swift exit into a waiting convoy without making any statement.

In a public show of support, Mr Garcia's Colombian counterpart, Alvaro Uribe, had accompanied him to Pisco.

Alvaro Uribe (L) and Alan Garcia in Pisco

They both viewed the remains of the San Clemente church, where about 150 people are believed to have died when the roof caved in on the congregation during a funeral service.

Our correspondent says Pisco's main square has become the focal point for international and government aid.

But he adds that away from the media attention, however, people just five minutes' drive from the centre of Pisco are still without clean water, food rations and proper shelter.

Hundreds of extra soldiers have been ordered into areas devastated by last Wednesday's massive earthquake, to stem looting.

On Saturday, President Garcia called for order to be restored "whatever the cost", but on Sunday he accused the media of exaggerating the extent of the unrest.

"You could say that despite a few small incidents, order has been re-established," he told reporters.

Rescue teams say the death toll is likely to rise as they recover more bodies from the rubble of wrecked buildings, many of them traditional structures that could not cope with the earthquake's magnitude.

'Solid material'

Mr Garcia said reconstruction projects would have to incorporate lessons learned as a result of the tremor.

"We're going to rebuild these houses, but it'll be with solid material," he said.

Countries across Latin America - including Ecuador, Bolivia, Brazil, Mexico, Venezuela, Colombia and Chile - have sent relief supplies.

The US, Canada, Spain, Italy and France have also provided aid.

The earthquake happened in one of the most seismically active regions of the world.

In 1970, a 7.9-magnitude earthquake high in the Peruvian Andes triggered a landslide that buried the town of Yungay and killed 66,000 people.

EARTHQUAKE DISASTER ZONE, AND TECTONIC PLATES
map of affected area
Earthquake struck on Wednesday at 1841 local time
The 8.0-magnitude earthquake was centred just off the coast of Peru
Two tectonic plates clash at this region, the Nazca plate and the South American plate
There is about 7-8cm (3in) movement between the plates a year


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video and audio news
Crowds shout at President Garcia



SEE ALSO
'Bodies still lie in Pisco's plaza'
19 Aug 07 |  Americas
In pictures: Peru quake aftermath
18 Aug 07 |  In Pictures
Engineers work to reconnect Peru
17 Aug 07 |  Technology
Dawn shines light on Pisco's sorrow
17 Aug 07 |  Americas
Peru quake: Eyewitness accounts
16 Aug 07 |  Have Your Say
Country profile: Peru
12 May 07 |  Country profiles
How earthquakes happen
01 Jun 09 |  Science & Environment

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