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Hundreds of people have stormed the Guatemalan Congress and burned part of the building amid growing protests in the Central American country.
It happened on Saturday when about 10,000 people gathered peacefully at the National Palace in the capital, Guatemala City.
They were protesting the approval of a controversial budget that increased debt but cut spending on education, health, justice and human rights.
Offices are believed to have been damaged rather than the main hall
A protester celebrates as the congress building burns behind him
Protesters say it was secretly negotiated and approved before dawn on Wednesday while the country was distracted by the COVID pandemic and the aftermath of several hurricanes.
The extent of the damage to the congress is unclear, but the offices rather than the main hall are believed to be affected.
The police fired tear gas and around a dozen people were injured as around a thousand gathered in the building. The protesters also set fire to some bus stops.
Referring to anger over the budget, student Mauricio Ramírez said: “I feel like they are stealing our future. We don’t see any change, this can’t go on like this.”
Riot police fired tear gas as they clashed with protesters
A bus stop burns in Guatemala City on Saturday
“We are outraged by the poverty, the injustice, the way they have stolen money from the public,” added psychology professor Rosa de Chavarría.
President Alejandro Giammattei tweeted that anyone involved in “criminal acts will be punished with the full force of the law.”
He said that people had the right to protest but that the destruction of property was unacceptable, adding that he had been meeting with various groups about budget changes.
Anger boiled over after politicians passed measures such as tens of thousands of dollars to pay for their meals, while slashing funding for coronavirus patients and human rights agencies.
Thousands of people gathered peacefully in front of the National Palace in the capital
Riot police appear to attack a protester in Guatemala City
Protesters also expressed discontent over what they say are attempts by the Supreme Court and the attorney general to undermine the fight against corruption in the country of 17 million.
Vice President Guillermo Castillo offered to resign if the president did the same “for the good of the country.”
He also proposed vetoing the budget and firing government officials.
President Giammattei, who came to power in January, has not responded publicly to the proposal.
Earlier this month, Guatemala was hit by two hurricanes, Eta and Iota, which killed 60 people and destroyed crops that tens of thousands of families depended on.
