Demonstrators in Paraguay have set fire to the country’s Congress amid violent protests against a bill that would let the president seek re-election.<\/p>\n
Protesters stormed the legislature, breaking windows and fences.<\/p>\n
The country’s 1992 constitution, introduced after 35 years of dictatorship, strictly limits the president to a single five-year term.<\/p>\n
But sitting President Horactio Cartes is attempting to remove the restriction and run for re-election.<\/p>\n
Protesters were photographed setting fire to barricades in the streets of Asuncion, near the congress building, on Friday night.<\/p>\n
The AFP news agency said the protesters had managed to break into the building and “ransacked” the offices of those who backed the bill, setting several fires.<\/p>\n
Police used rubber bullets and water cannons to disperse the crowd.<\/p>\n
Earlier, the crowd took to the streets following a private meeting of senators, which approved a bill to amend the constitution.<\/p>\n
The bill must also be approved by the other house of parliament – the chamber of deputies – where President Cartes’ party holds a majority.<\/p>\n
The chamber’s president, Hugo Vel\u00e1zquez, told ABC Color (in Spanish)<\/a> that the sitting planned for the following morning would no longer take place and no decision would be made on Saturday.<\/p>\n He urged people to stay calm.<\/p>\n Opponents say the bill will weaken the country’s democratic institutions.<\/p>\n Paraguay was controlled by dictator General Alfredo Stroessner, who seized power in a coup, from 1954 until 1989.<\/p>\n The new constitution in 1992 created the modern government, but there has been a long period of political instability and party infighting, as well as a failed coup attempt.<\/p>\n President Cartes’ term is due to end in 2018.<\/p>\n Source: bbc.co.uk<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"