They declared the curfew and militarization of the capital of Ecuador

The President of Ecuador, Lenín Moreno, has decreed this afternoon the "curfew" and "militarization" in the metropolitan district of Quito in order to help the security forces to quell the protests of Saturday by cutting subsidies on the sale of fuel.

"I have organized the curfew and militarization of the metropolitan district of Quito and its valleys.The government will begin to rule at 3 pm (17 in Argentina) .This will facilitate the action of the police force against the intolerable excesses of violence, "said the president A message through social networks.

At the same time, the Ministry of the Government issued another message in which it asked the citizens to "go home" and added, in an almost military tone, that "this measure will be in effect until further notice. the official channels ".

Traffic in the streets under conditions of militarization will only be allowed with a secure pass.

The decision was taken by Moreno following the resumption of demonstrations by the indigenous movement, which on Saturday took and paralyzed the city of Quito by a massive operation of parades and pickets, while thousands of activists clashed with forces of movement. order in the center of the city, whose access remains blocked.

The curfew decision was circulated after the Confederation of Indigenous Nationalities of Ecuador (Conaie) announced that it was accepting President Moreno's proposal for dialogue.

Although initially flatly refusing to talk to Moreno if it did not reconstitute fuel subsidies, the main requirement of the demonstrations, Conaie has changed its position in "a process of consultation of communities, organizations, cities, nationalities" and social organizations.

Ecuador is experiencing a wave of serious protests for ten days following a decree signed by the president in which he eliminates the gasoline subsidy as part of a series of 39, adjustments related to a credit agreement with the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

The agreement with the IMF, which brought in $ 4.2 billion, is accompanied by a series of requirements aimed at reducing public spending and increasing revenue for the government. The state, which provoked outrage from groups of workers, indigenous peoples and other social sectors.