Police in Peru have arrested the country’s president, Pedro Castillo, after Congress voted to remove him from power.

In a tweet that has since been deleted, the National Police of Peru said officers had “intervened”.

A photograph showed a man in a blue jacket sitting on a sofa – apparently Mr Castillo – but his eyes had been blacked out.

The tweet described him as “former president Pedro Castillo”.

Congress voted to remove Mr Castillo and replace him with Vice President Dina Boluarte after he tried to dissolve the legislature, the AP news agency reported.

Ms Boluarte, a 60-year-old lawyer, has since been sworn in as interim president. She becomes Peru’s first female leader.

Representatives voted 101-6, with 10 abstentions, to remove Mr Castillo from office for reasons of “permanent moral incapacity”.

Shortly before the ballot, Mr Castillo said he was installing a new emergency government and called for the next group of representatives to develop a new constitution.

During a televised address, he said he would rule by decree and ordered a nightly curfew starting on Wednesday night.

He also mooted changes in the leadership of the judiciary, police and constitutional court.

In response, the head of Peru’s army resigned, along with four ministers, including those responsible for foreign affairs and the economy.

Mr Castillo took his actions as his opponents in Congress moved towards a third attempt to remove him from office.

The Ombudsman’s Office, an independent government institution, said prior to the congressional vote that Mr Castillo should resign and present himself to judicial authorities.

Mr Castillo, a peasant-turned-president, has denied allegations of corruption against him, saying they are based on “hearsay statements by people who, seeking to lighten their own punishments for supposed crimes by abusing my confidence, are trying to involve me without evidence”.

Federal prosecutors are investigating six cases against him, most of them for alleged corruption.

Related posts:

PM won’t return 2,500-year-old ‘legally acquired’ Elgin Marbles to Greece At least 38 anti-coup protesters killed in Myanmar as Chinese factories burn Man wanted for buying stolen van Gogh paintings arrested in Dubai Boxer Manny Pacquiao to run for Philippines president Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe’s husband urges foreign secretary to make case ‘top priority’ ‘An outrageous attack’: Anti-Semitic graffiti found at Auschwitz site At least 14 dead after mudslide hits Colombian town ‘I prayed not to be killed’: sled driver recalls hour-long attack as moose trampled dogs Kyiv suburbs under attack as Zelenskyy warns of Russia attack on NATO ‘homes’ after strike near Polish border Zelenskyy makes ‘life or death’ surrender ultimatum to soldiers – but is upbeat on peace talks progress Macron admits ‘deep divisions’ in France as he scrambles to avoid political deadlock Fight between former Spanish king Juan Carlos and ex-lover goes to appeal judges