PERUVIAN POLICE CRACK DOWN ON BUSH-BASHERS

March 24, 2002 -- Peruvian riot police hunted down violent demonstrators
who were protesting President Bush's trip to the South American country
yesterday.

Police attempted to clear the streets of Lima before Bush's afternoon
landing - firing tear gas to disperse crowds, taking sharp-shooting
positions on roofs and rounding up more than 25 hostile lawbreakers.

The rioters, some of whom threw stones and crude explosives, chanted,
"Bush, murderer! Get out of Peru!" and "Down with Yankee imperialism!"

Peruvian law enforcement has been on high alert after a car bomb killed
nine people Wednesday outside the U.S. Embassy.

As part of a four-day swing through Latin America, Bush flew from Mexico to
meet with Peruvian President Alejandro Toledo and the presidents of
Colombia and Bolivia.

During his stay, Bush will discuss opening up Latin American markets,
fighting the drug trade and bolstering Toledo's government, officials said.

Bush also pushed for the humane and fair treatment of New Yorker Lori
Berenson, serving 20 years in an Andean jail for aiding Marxist rebels.

Bush travels to El Salvador today.

With Post Wire Services