- Title: Tense calm in Quito as country reels from week-long clashes
- Date: 9th October 2019
- Summary: QUITO, ECUADOR (OCTOBER 9, 2019) (REUTERS) BARRICADED ROAD WITH TREE BRANCH VARIOUS OF TROOPS GUARDING NATIONAL ASSEMBLY VARIOUS OF STREETS AS PROTESTERS START TO GATHER (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) PROTESTER, PEDRO VARGAS, SAYING: "To thank the city of Quito which (shown) solidarity, hospitality. On the other hand, we disagree with the national government, that public force, police, and the military who have brutally assaulted us. We have wounded colleagues, they are minor wounds, thank God they are not so serious. But about 80 of our people have been arrested." VARIOUS OF BROKEN GLASS AND EMPTY CASINGS LYING ON STREET VARIOUS OF POLICE STANDING BY
- Embargoed: 23rd October 2019 16:42
- Keywords: Ecuador crisis fuel protests Quito clashes
- Location: QUITO, ECUADOR
- City: QUITO, ECUADOR
- Country: Ecuador
- Topics: Government/Politics,Editors' Choice
- Reuters ID: LVA001B0DNL8N
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Indigenous-led protesters began a national strike in Ecuador on Wednesday (October 9) after President Lenin Moreno refused to step down or overturn anti-austerity measures that have triggered the worst unrest in a decade.
Streets were empty of traffic and businesses were closed in the capital Quito and other cities, witnesses said, at the start of the day-long shutdown in Latin America's latest flashpoint over structural economic reforms.
Violent demonstrations erupted in the Andean nation of 17 million people a week ago when Moreno cut fuel subsidies as part of a package of measures in line with a $4.2 billion International Monetary Fund (IMF) loan.
With Quito seeing the worst of the unrest, Moreno has relocated his government to the coastal city of Guayaquil.
For days, protesters have been marching and barricading roads with burning tires. Masked protesters have hurled stones at security forces responding with tear gas and water cannon.
(Production: Cristina Munoz) - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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