Peruvian President Alan Garcia on Tuesday announced a cabinet reshuffle, and cabinet members including Prime Minister Yehude Simon will have to leave.

"I can tell you that this weekend we will have new cabinet," Garcia told reporters after a ceremony to launch a social welfare program in northern Lima.

Simon, who took office in October 2008, confirmed his resignation later on Tuesday, citing a forced cabinet change by Garcia.

"Now we must seek a new candidate (for prime minister)," Simon said before a meeting with lawmakers of the ruling Peruvian Aprista Party.

Simon said that a cabinet reshuffle will be imminent, but he did not mention if all of the ministers would be replaced.

The Congress has been mulling dismissing Simon and Interior Minister Mercedes Cabanillas after a violent demonstration by indigenous people in Peru's Amazon region.

A total of 34 people were killed in the clashes between the protesters and the police on June 5.

The indigenous people were demanding the abrogation of some legislative decrees, which they fear will deprive them of the lands where they have lived for generations.

(Xinhua News Agency July 8, 2009)