Ecuador declares state of emergency over protests

By Zehra Nur Duz

ANKARA (AA) – Ecuador’s President Lenin Moreno declared a two-month state of emergency Thursday due to protests.

A nationwide strike by transport workers and taxi drivers against the elimination of fuel subsidies led to anti-government protests and violence.

The government eliminated four-decade-old fuel subsidies Tuesday as part of an agreement with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to obtain loans.

Moreno described the subsidies in an official announcement as “a distortion that caused deterioration to the national economy,” according to the Caracas-based TV channel Telesur.

He also said they are determined not to change their decision on “those perverse subsidies that were damaging the country.”

Interior Minister Maria Romo said 19 people were arrested due to the protests.