Ecuadoran protesters literally paralyze the capital Quito with protests over new proposed law to all
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[quote]A general strike by a broad coalition in Ecuador upset with President Rafael Correa has virtually paralysed the capital, Quito, provincial cities and stretches of the Pan-American Highway.
[B]Thousands of indigenous activists, unionists, environmentalists and members of the political opposition blocked roads on Thursday with tree trunks, rocks and burning tyres.
Public transport was scarce in Quito and major thoroughfares were blocked in Guayaquil, Cuenca and other provincial capitals.
There were no reports of serious violence.[/B] Police fired tear gas at one point in a vain attempt to dislodge indigenous protesters on the Pan-American Highway near the Cotopaxi volcano.
[B]Protesters criticized proposed constitutional changes that would let Correa run for office again, without calling for a public referendum on the matter.[/B]
Milton Gualala, a legislator from Zamora-Chinchipe province, told Al Jazeera: "We demand the National Assembly to eliminate the constitutional amendments.
"What they are up to is reforming the constitution to guarantee Correa's indefinite re-election.
"If he wants to do that, he has call for a referendum."
[B]Facing the first national strike against him in eight years in office, Correa blamed the far right, his usual nemesis.[/B]
In remarks to a youth group, he called on supporters to clear the streets.
"These things must be rejected, not by the security forces but by the citizenry," Correa said of the barricades.
"A small group is trying to impose its policies on us."[/quote]
[url]http://www.aljazeera.com/news/2015/08/general-strike-brings-ecuador-quito-standstill-150813234211406.html[/url]
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