Ecuador: There are 5 dead and 10 policemen in the hands of indigenous peoples

The leader, who called for "radicalizing actions" through "roadblocks and outlets" of public buildings, also spoke with indigenous people concentrated in a Quito colosseum.

"We will radicalize more strongly, partners, and if they must denounce me and if they must kill me, they kill me!" exclaimed Vargas.

The leader threw a bucket of cold water at the expectation of President Lenin Moreno regarding a possible arrangement with the mediation of the Church and the United Nations.

Ecuador faced a new escalation of the crisis after a week of violent demonstrations that, in addition to leaving the victims in chaos, led to an interruption in the transportation of crude oil through the country's main pipeline.

The Ombudsman's office announced that five civilians had been killed, including an indigenous leader, since the beginning of the demonstration on 2 October. Ten policemen are also in the hands of Conaie militants in the Coliseum where spirits are bubbling up against the government.

In a message broadcast on radio and television, the secretary general of the presidency, José Briones, spoke only of two deaths and denounced the kidnapping of men in uniform. Nevertheless, "we reiterate our willingness to always dialogue within the framework of peace," he said.

Indigenous peoples embody social discontent with Moreno's economic reforms as part of a millionaires credit program intended, he said, to save Ecuador's dollarized economy from "debacle" after years of "waste, debt and corruption" in the government of his predecessor and uplifting, Rafael Correa. Among the adjustments, there is the elimination of diesel and gasoline subsidies, which have resulted in rates of up to 123%.

Moreno, who took the government headquarters to Guayaquil, harassed by protests, was on Wednesday in Quito for a few hours to watch the talks before returning to his port.

The indigenous people, who make up 25 percent of the 17.3 million Ecuadorians, are the most punished by poverty and work mainly in the countryside. With the release of fuel prices, they must pay more to transport their products while fearing inflationary escalation.

Wednesday, Conaie has shown its strength with a massive march on Quito, the upset capital that is private course and public transport for more than a week and whose trade is limited.

Groups of workers and youth, some of them hooded, who support the demonstration, clashed with stones, sticks and incendiary bombs with the police, who responded with tear gas.