Paraguay congress set ablaze amid protests Presidential controversy

“A coup has been carried out. We will resist and we invite the people to resist with us,” said Desiree Masi from the opposition Progressive Democratic Party

Protesters angered by recent Constitutional amendments have set fire to Paraguay's congress building
Protesters angered by recent Constitutional amendments have set fire to Paraguay's congress building

Protesters have stormed and set fire to Paraguay’s Congress building on Friday after the senate secretly voted for a constitutional amendment that would allow President Horacio Cartes to run for re-election.

The country’s constitution has prohibited re-election since it was passed in 1992 after its previous brutal dictatorship fell in 1989.

“A coup has been carried out. We will resist and we invite the people to resist with us,” said Desiree Masi from the opposition Progressive Democratic Party.

Firefighters brought the flames under control on Friday night, but protests and riots continued in other parts of Asuncion and elsewhere in the country well into the night, according to media reports.

Protesters smashed the congress building's windows and clashsed with police, burning tires and removing parts of fences around the building. Police in riot gear fired tear gas and rubber bullets at the crowd.

Several politicians and journalists were reportedly injured. Paraguay's interior minister, Tadeo Rojas, said several police were also hurt in the clashes.

One member of the lower house of congress, who had been participating in protests that afternoon, underwent surgery after being hit by rubber bullets.

The number of casualties is as yet unknown.

President Cartes called for calm in a statement posted to Twitter.

“Democracy is not conquered or defended with violence and you can be sure this government will continue to put its best effort into maintaining order in the republic,” he said. “We must not allow a few barbarians to destroy the peace, tranquility and general wellbeing of the Paraguayan people.”