Peruvian president to face impeachment proceedings

Peruvian lawmakers have decided to move forward with proceedings to impeach President Pedro Pablo Kuczynski amid allegations of bribery in connection to one of the largest corruption scandals in Latin America.

The impeachment vote comes a day after President Kuczynski said he would not resign amid the "false" allegations.

He is accused of receiving more than USD 4 million from the Brazilian construction firm Odebrecht.

The lawmakers voted 93 to 17 in a motion to initiate the process of impeachment against Kuczynski, on Friday. The president is expected to defend himself to lawmakers next Thursday.

"I am here to show my face. I do not run, nor do I hide or have any motive to do so. I am here because you deserve an explanation and I have an obligation to give you that," CNN quoted Kuczynski, as saying, on a televised address on Thursday.

He said he would ask the attorney general's office to lift his banking secrecy and allow the public to review his finances.

Kuczynski is the latest political figure in Latin America who has been linked to the Odebrecht scandal.