Protesters storm Ecuador’s congress
Congressmen flee as supporters of President Rafael Correa demand reforms.
Thousands of protesters shouted, “Yes to the popular assembly” and “Congressmen go home”.
Congress closed
Jorge Cevallos, president of the congress, said the protests forced him to close the legislature.
“We call on the world to see what is happening in this country, where the rule of law is not respected and we are living a dictatorial attitude,” Cevallos said.
“The fight here is between congress and 13 million Ecuadoreans“ Rafael Correa, president of Ecuador |
Cevallos accused Correa’s government of supporting the protesters.
The president said it was up to congress “put out the fire they started”.
“The fight here is between congress and 13 million Ecuadoreans,” Correa said. He added that his referendum request will move forwards even with congressional opposition.
Opposition politicians have said they could move congress out of the capital, Quito, if street protests continue and have complained that the government is providing insufficient security.
Correa was elected in November promising to introduce sweeping reforms to curtail the influence of traditional political parties that many Ecuadoreans blame for the country’s political instability.