LIMA: Following deadly protests that have wracked the nation since former President Pedro Castillo's removal from office and arrest last week, two Cabinet members resigned on Friday, putting pressure on Peru's fledgling government.

Patricia Correa, the minister of education, and Jair Perez, the minister of culture, both made their resignations known via Twitter and cited the deaths of people during the unrest.

"I handed in my letter of resignation as minister of education this morning. There is no excuse for the deaths of fellow citizens. State violence cannot be excessive and result in death, "Correa posted a statement on Twitter.

Anger-filled demonstrations against Castillo's removal have erupted, with protesters demanding early elections, the dissolution of Congress, a constituent assembly, and the resignation of new President Dina Boluarte.

Friday saw more protests, with major thoroughfares blocked off and airports shut down. Authorities have reported that at least 17 people have died directly as a result of the protests so far, and an additional five have died indirectly.

In response to reports of minors being arrested and killed while participating in the demonstrations, the United Nations on Friday expressed "deep concern."

The U.N. High Commission will meet with Peru's Foreign Minister Ana Cecilia Gervasi on Tuesday to discuss the situation, according to the Peruvian government.

According to local authorities, eight people were killed in clashes on Thursday between security forces and protesters in Ayacucho after a Supreme Court panel mandated Castillo's 18-month pretrial detention while he is under investigation for "rebellion and conspiracy" charges.

Castillo has denied wrongdoing and says he remains the country's lawful president.

Peru has been through years of political turmoil, with multiple leaders accused of corruption, frequent impeachment attempts, and presidential terms cut short.

The Cabinet departures raise questions about the longevity of the government of Boluarte, the former vice president, who was sworn in on Dec. 7 after Castillo was removed from office by a congressional vote hours after he attempted to dissolve Congress.

Peru's Congress on Friday rejected a proposed constitutional reform that would have brought presidential elections forward to December 2023, one of the key demands of the protesters.

After the deaths in Ayacucho, the country's ombudsman's office said a criminal complaint had been filed to determine the responsibility, without giving further details.

Boluarte's government announced a state of emergency on Wednesday, granting police special powers and limiting freedoms, including the right to assembly, but it appears to have had little effect in stemming the protests.