Peru's president calls state of emergency

Demonstrators gather near burning barricades during a protest at Plaza de Armas in Arequipa on Saturday.

LIMA, Peru (CNN) -- After three days of violent protests, President Alejandro Toledo declared a 30-day state of emergency Sunday in the department of Arequipa, in the country's southern region.

During that time, individual guarantees of rights are suspended, such as the right to assemble in groups, the sanctity of the home, and the requirement that arrests be made with a judicial order.

As a result of the decree, the armed forces have taken control of the zone, which includes the city of Arequipa.

Toledo took the measure after more than 100 people were wounded in protests against the privatization of electric companies in the southern region of the country. Some of the people, police said, were shot.

Protesters destroyed the principal plaza and broke lights at the principal airport, resulting in the suspension of flights affecting hundreds of travelers.

Late Sunday, the ministerial cabinet met in emergency session to plan how to control the protests -- the most violent of which are in Arequipa.

In other areas of the southern region, such as Tacna, less violent acts of protests have taken place.

The privatization of the energy industry in the south took place last Friday and, according to government representatives, extremist groups approved the protests.