Ecuador president Moreno flees the capital amid growing unrest
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As thousands of anti-government protesters poured into Ecuador’s capital Quito, the nation’s president, Lenin Moreno, moved to the southern port city of Guayaquil and announced he was facing an attempted coup.
Nationwide protests, including road blocks, looting and escalating clashes, first started earlier this week in response to the government’s decision to cancel key fuel subsidies.
Members of the nation’s indigenous tribes traveled to the city for a march on the Quito presidential palace on Tuesday.
Indigenous protesters take the building of the National Assembly in Quito, Ecuador, 08 October 2019. The demonstrators took the building of the National Assembly (Parliament) of Ecuador to the shout of ‘Moreno out!’, after throwing down the security gates that surrounded the headquarters. . EPA-EFE/Jose Jacome
Protesters braved police tear gas and some briefly broke into the empty congress building, while elsewhere roads were blocked and transport came to a halt.
Protesters seized two oil installations and state oil company Petroecuador warned that one-third of the country’s production could be lost if protests continue.
Hundred indigenous people walk for the Aloag sector in their way to Quito, Ecuador. The indigenous people will participate in a massive protest schedule for 09 October in the framework of demonstrations against the rise in the fuel prices and other economic measures of the Government of President Lenin Moreno. EPA-EFE/Jose Jacome
In other parts of the Andean country, protesters vandalized shops and vehicles during running street battles with riot police.
Policemen try to control demonstrations of indigenous protesters who take the building of the National Assembly in Quito, Ecuador. EPA-EFE/Jose Jacome
