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Protesters Set Paraguay Congress Ablaze, Clashes Leave 30 Injured

Protesters Set Paraguay Congress Ablaze, Clashes Leave 30 Injured
folder_openLatin America access_time6 years ago
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Local Editor

Violent protesters in the Paraguayan capital of Asuncion stormed the National Congress building following a day of angry rallies over the senators' closed-doors vote to allow President Horacio Cartes to run for re-election.

Protesters Set Paraguay Congress Ablaze, Clashes Leave 30 Injured

The protests outside the Congress erupted after a group of 25 lawmakers voted for the measure, two more than the 23 required for passage in the 45-member upper chamber, Reuters reported.

The opposition crowd that deemed the measure illegal was confronted by police wielding water hoses.

As the violence intensified with activists breaking windows of the Congress building, the officers also fired rubber bullets.

Protesters then stormed the building and set it on fire, photos posted on social media show.

"A coup has been carried out. We will resist and we invite the people to resist with us," said Senator Desiree Masi from the opposition Progressive Democratic Party, as cited by Reuters.

According to local media reports, the demonstrators managed to storm the first floor of the Congress after overrunning the poorly armed police lines. The rioters set fire to papers and chairs causing the flames to spread throughout the floor.

The building was eventually cordoned off by police after the entire ground floor reportedly burned down. According to local media, some MP's are still inside the building.

"We guarantee that the police will not repress [you] again. We ask you not to break down the fences, not to try to enter the building of Congress," said police commander, Crisis Sotelo, in a desperate televised plea to the rioters. "We ask for calm, tranquility."

At least 30 demonstrators and police officers were injured in the clashes, the fire service said, according to AFP. Police are not reporting any civilian casualties in the clashes.

Local media reported that several politicians and journalists were among the wounded. Those injured included senior opposition politicians such as Senate speaker Roberto Acevedo, the agency said citing Senator Luis Wagner.

"The national police were not under any instruction to repress. They were attacked," Interior Minister Tadeo Rojas said on local television, blaming a small group of rioters for attacking the building and the police.

Source: News Agencies, Edited by website team

 

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