Peru's Congress passed late on Friday passed an extension to a scheme allowing temporary permits to be given to small-scale informal miners, controversial due to accusations by opponents that it has been misused to expand illegal mining.

LIMA (Reuters) - A Peruvian congressional committee on Friday took an initial step to extend a scheme that allows temporary permits to be given to small-scale informal miners, controversial due to accusations by opponents that it has been misused to expand illegal mining.

Peru’s Congress voted late on Friday to extend for six months a controversial permit that allows informal mines to operate in the country.

Thousands of small-scale miners in Peru blocked roads and camped outside Congress on Monday to demand extension of a program that allows them to operate temporarily, but which authorities say has expanded illegal mining.