After a debate interrupted by supporters of defeated populist candidate Ollanta Humala -- who chanted anti-freetrade slogans in Congress -- an agreement with the United States was ratified 79-14.
BY RICK VECCHIO
Associated Press
LIMA - Peru's Congress overwhelmingly voted to ratify a free-trade pact with the United States Wednesday, rejecting claims the treaty will hurt local farmers by flooding Peru with subsidized cotton, rice, corn and potatoes.
Lawmakers voted 79-14, with six abstentions, to approve the deal, which the outgoing government of President Alejandro Toledo reached with Washington late last year.
All 25 legislators present from President-elect Alan García's 28-member Aprista Party bloc voted ''yes'' on Wednesday, the congressional press office said.
The debate was interrupted for a half-hour by supporters of Ollanta Humala -- the populist firebrand defeated in the June 4 presidential election -- who shoved, punched and kicked past security guards to gain the Congress floor.
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