At least three people were shot and killed by police and 17 are seriously injured in the Peruvian province of Cotabambas after being shot at and teargassed in a protest against mining the US$7.4-billion Chinese project Las Bamba, as the government calls on demonstrators to dialogue while deploying a massive security force.

Leader of the Front for Defense of the Interests of Cotabambas (FDIC) Jaime Osorio said the disturbances unleashed when a rally of 15,000 people was attacked by police who launched tear gas at them.