Peru leader's popularity drops after Amazon clashes

LIMA, June 21 (Reuters) - Peruvian President Alan Garcia's approval rating fell to its lowest level since November, hit by criticism over his handling of protests in which at least 34 people died, according to a poll published on Sunday.

About 21 percent of Peruvians surveyed said they had a favorable impression of Garcia, down 9 percent from May, according to a nationwide poll by Ipsos Apoyo.

Garcia is struggling to calm political tensions after police clashed with Indian groups protesting a government plan to open up Peru's Amazon region to foreign mining and energy companies.

The violence triggered Garcia's worst political crisis since he took office in 2006.

Indian groups -- who say the development will lead to the destruction of their land in the rainforest -- insist dozens of protesters were killed and others are missing.

Last week, Peru's Congress overturned two controversial land laws that ignited the protests.

Garcia has grappled with low approval ratings throughout much of his presidency. His approval rating fell to 19 percent in November amid rising inflation and persistent complaints from Peruvians that recent years of economic growth failed to trickle down to the poor.

The poll, published in El Comerico newspaper, interviewed 1,000 people between Wednesday and Friday and had a 3.1 percent margin of error. (Reporting by Teresa Cespedes; Writing by Kevin Gray)