COLLEEN MCEDWARDS, WORLD NEWS: Ignoring calls from the Organization of American States, Peru is going ahead with a presidential runoff election this weekend. The decision comes as protests by supporters of challenger Alejandro Toledo clashed with police in the streets of Lima. CNN's Harris Whitbeck has this report.</s>HARRIS WHITBECK, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): They used two-by- fours to try to break down the doors to the Peruvian national electoral board's offices. They threw stones and burned tires to protest what they say will be a fraudulent presidential runoff election scheduled for Sunday. Thousands of workers, teachers and students marched through downtown Lima, demonstrating their support for democracy, hoping to force the government to call off the second round of presidential voting until observers could certify the electoral system as fraud free. The demonstrations were violent, and riot police used tear gas to break them up. At least one demonstrator was injured. Earlier Thursday, the head of an Organization of American States observer mission had called a press conference to say he could not approve the process. Wednesday night, the Peruvian national election board had staged a dry run of the computer system that will be used in Sunday's voting to prove it was free of flaws. The international observers said they had seen some improvements to the system but said more had to be done. "We still need another 10 days to make sure the computer software is functioning properly," said Eduardo Stein, head of the mission. The opposition is hoping international pressure will force the electoral authorities to change their minds, something street protests so far have not been able to accomplish. (on camera): The fear is that tensions will only increase as the date of the second runoff approaches. (voice-over): Some citizen groups have said the government might militarize the country if public protests continue. And with the current political uncertainty, those protesters have vowed to stay on the streets. Harris Whitbeck, CNN, Lima.
Peru Will Hold Controversial Runoff Election