Dina Boluarte (center), interim president of Peru, arrives for a photo during the swearing-in ceremony of cabinet members at the Government Palace in Peru on December 10, 2022. The Peru’s first woman president, oversaw the ceremony in which 19 ministers – eight of whom are women – took the oath of office at the presidential palace. Photo: VCG

 A court in Peru Tuesday rejected an appeal by former president Pedro Castillo to be freed from detention on charges of rebellion and conspiracy, as officials warned protests demanding his release could spiral out of control.

Castillo, who was removed from office and arrested after attempting to dissolve parliament and rule by decree, had earlier told the court he would "never give up" his cause.

Castillo also called on police and the military to "stop killing" protesters who continue to demand his release and reinstatement, after violent clashes between security forces and demonstrators left seven people dead in recent days.

But Judge Cesar San Martin said the court had declared "unfounded the appeal filed by the defendant's defense" as he read out the judgment following a virtual hearing.

Castillo's demise was rapid after he had attempted to sideline parliament on December 7 just hours before it was due to hold a third impeachment vote against him.

Castillo and his family were being investigated for alleged corruption.

Congress went ahead with its vote and overwhelmingly decided to impeach him for "moral incapacity."

He was provisionally detained for seven days.

Within hours his vice president, Dina Boluarte, a former prosecutor, was sworn in as Castillo's successor.

"I will never give up and abandon this popular cause that brought me here," the leftist Castillo said during Tuesday's hearing.

"From here I would like to urge the armed forces and national police to lay down their arms and stop killing these people thirsty for justice."

He said his arrest was unjust and arbitrary.

"I am not a thief, a rapist, corrupt or a thug," he added, before being interrupted by the judge who asked him to keep to legal arguments.

Castillo's supporters began protesting almost immediately after his arrest, with matters escalating Sunday when two people were killed in clashes between demonstrators and security forces.

Another five people died Monday in more violent clashes.

Six of the seven deaths have been in Apurimac region, where Boluarte was born.

The other occurred in Peru's second largest city Arequipa as police cleared hundreds of protesters from the city's airport where they had set up barricades of burning tires, logs and rocks.

"This is a very serious social convulsion, we fear that it will lead to an uprising because there are people calling for an insurrection, who are asking to take up arms," rights ombudsman Eliana Revollar told AFP.