Former Peruvian President Pedro Castillo's prison stay was extended by 18 months on Thursday.

A judicial panel within the Supreme Court ruled that Castillo, initially jailed for seven days, would remain behind bars as prosecutors continued their investigation into criminal charges against him.

The decision did not touch on the merits of the accusations faced by Castillo, who has been charged with rebellion and conspiracy, but a judge heading up the panel cited the risk of flight by the former president.

The leftist Castillo was ousted by an overwhelming vote of lawmakers who accused him of "permanent moral incapacity" just hours after he ordered the Congress dissolved on December 7.

Several leftist allies of the deposed leader rallied to his support. Earlier this week, four nations led by leftist presidents – Argentina, Bolivia, Colombia and Mexico – signed onto a joint statement declaring Castillo "a victim of undemocratic harassment."

A bloc of left-wing countries meeting in Havana, including Cuba, Bolivia, Venezuela and Nicaragua, also forcefully backed the jailed Castillo. 

Foreign Minister Ana Cecilia Gervasi, new to the post after President Dina Boluarte took over from Castillo last week, responded on Thursday by summoning home Peru's ambassadors in Argentina, Bolivia, Colombia and Mexico for consultation.

Gervasi wrote that the consultations "relate to interference in the internal affairs of Peru" in a post on Twitter. 

She did not specify when the talks would take place, or what other actions Boluarte's government might take.

Peru declared a nationwide 30-day state of emergency on Wednesday in response to ongoing protests across the country sparked by the ousting of Castillo.

(With input from Reuters)

Read more: 

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Peru's top court mulls detaining ex-President Castillo for 18 months

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(Cover: Former Peruvian President Pedro Castillo holds a press conference at the La Moneda presidential palace in Santiago, Chile, November 29, 2022. /CFP)