LIMA (Reuters) - The popularity of Peruvian President Alan Garcia rose in July after plunging to near lows in the wake of a bloody protest that turned into his presidency's worst crisis, a poll showed on Sunday.
Garcia's approval ratings rose to 27 percent in July from 21 percent the previous month, according to an Ipsos Apoyo survey published by the Lima-based daily El Comercio.
His government's handling of protests over Amazon jungle resources that resulted in the death of at least 34 people severely dented Garcia's support in the Andean country.
Facing growing pressure from the opposition after the deadly protests, Garcia reshuffled his Cabinet, which may have contributed to the higher approval ratings.
Widespread discontent with Garcia's investor-friendly policies, which critics say have failed to lift the income of workers and the poor despite spurring economic growth, could help ultranationalist Ollanta Humala in his drive to win the presidency in the 2011 elections.
Humala, an ally of socialist Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez, scared investors when he nearly won the presidency in 2006 on pledges to unravel years of free-market reforms that have lured millions of dollars in foreign capital.
The country's vast oil and mineral riches also have attracted foreign investors.
The Ipsos poll interviewed 1,000 people across the country's main cities and has a margin of error of 3 percent.
(Reporting by Teresa Cespedes; Writing by Alonso Soto)
