State of emergency begins in Lima after wave of violence: Peru President

Peru's interim government declared a state of emergency in Lima and the neighboring port of Callao to curb the wave of violence and extortion attributed to organized crime.

"The state of emergency approved by the Council of Ministers will come into effect at midnight on Wednesday and will remain in force for 30 days in Metropolitan Lima and Callao," said President Jose Jeri in a brief message to the nation broadcast on state television.