The Attorney General's Office in Peru has announced an investigation into President Dina Boluarte for "genocide" during the protests against her.

The preliminary investigations were also directed against Cabinet Secretary Alberto Otárola, Interior Minister Victor Rojas and Defense Minister Jorge Chávez, the law enforcement agency said on Twitter on Tuesday.

At least 40 people have been killed and more than 600 injured in the protests against Boluarte, which have been going on for around four weeks.

The investigation would look into the alleged crimes of "genocide, intentional killing and serious bodily harm", said the Attorney General's Office.

In the past few weeks, there have been repeated bloody clashes between security forces and demonstrators.

Cabinet chef Otárola on Tuesday announced a three-day night curfew in the southern Puno region, which is a central scene of the protests.

Unrest continues

On Monday, 18 people were killed during unrest in the Puno region.

14 of them died in confrontations with the security forces around the airport of the city of Juliaca.

Demonstrators had tried to occupy the airport.

In the Puno region, many indigenous people live from the Aymara people.

The riots continued on Tuesday.

A police officer was killed in his car after it was set on fire.

The South American country has been rocked by nationwide unrest since the impeachment and arrest of leftist President Pedro Castillo on December 7.

The demonstrators protest against Castillo's disempowerment and demand the resignation of his successor Boluarte.

They are also demanding that Parliament be dissolved and that new elections be held immediately.