Paraguay congress set on fire amid presidential controversy

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.

Protesters stormed the legislature, breaking windows and fences.

The country's 1992 constitution, introduced after 35 years of dictatorship, strictly limits the president to a single five-year term.

But sitting President Horactio Cartes is attempting to remove the restriction and run for re-election.

Protesters were photographed setting fire to barricades in the streets of Asuncion, near the congress building, on Friday night.

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 Police used rubber bullets and water cannons to disperse the crowd.

Earlier, the crowd took to the streets following a private meeting of senators, which approved a bill to amend the constitution.

The bill must also be approved by the other house of parliament - the chamber of deputies - where President Cartes' party holds a majority.

The chamber's president, Hugo Velázquez, told ABC Color (in Spanish) that the sitting planned for the following morning would no longer take place and no decision would be made on Saturday.

He urged people to stay calm.

Opponents say the bill will weaken the country's democratic institutions.

Policeman aims a weapon during a demonstration against a possible change in the law to allow for presidential re-election in front of the Congress building in Asuncion, Paraguay, March 31, 2017

Paraguay was controlled by dictator General Alfredo Stroessner, who seized power in a coup, from 1954 until 1989.

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.

President Cartes' term is due to end in 2018.

Comments

Kenny Baker, actor behind R2-D2, dies

The 3ft 8in actor, who starred in six Star Wars films as well as Time Bandits and Flash Gordon, was 81 The British actor who played R2-D2 in the Star Wars films has died at the age of 81 after a long illness. Kenny Baker, who was 3ft 8in tall, shot to fame in 1977 when he first played the robot character. Meeting Kenny Baker, the real-live human behind R2-D2 He went on to play the character in The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi, as well as the three Star Wars prequels from 1999 to 2005. He also appeared in a number of other much loved films in the 1980s, including The Elephant Man, Time Bandits and Flash Gordon. His niece, Abigail Shield, paid tribute to her uncle. She told the Guardian: “It was expected, but it’s sad nonetheless. He had a very long and fulfilled life. He brought lots of happiness to people and we’ll be celebrating the fact that he was well loved throughout the world. We’re all very proud of what he achieved in his lifetime.” Baker and Shiel...

What You Must Not Tell Kidnappers - Victim Reveals

The arrest of notorious and billionaire kidnap kingpin, Evans, does not decimate kidnap cases in Nigeria. Kidnappers are on the look-out for the next victim. One just need to be vigilant so as not to fall prey into their hands. An abductee of one of the recent kidnap cases of the Abuja-Kaduna expressway has revealed the traumatic experience he and others underwent in the hands of their dreaded abductors. The victim, who craved anonymity for security concerns, revealed what caused the instant death of two kidnap victims whom they were abducted together. The victim, told BBC Hausa Service that two of the kidnapped passengers were killed for admitting that they had nobody to pay their ransom. "I was traveling to Kaduna and we left Zuba garage on a commercial car. On reaching Katari (town), we met the kidnappers; 7 of them. They stopped us and chased us into the tick of the bush. We trekked from 1pm until 3am. “We don’t know where they kept us in the bush, because I have ne...

Comedian Basketmouth robbed in his Lekki home

Basketmouth Famous Nigerian stand-up comedian, Bright Okpocha popularly known as Basketmouth and his family were in the early hours of this morning robbed at their Lekki home at gunpoint. His close friend and colleague, comedian Bovi took to his Instagram page to say that Basketmouth and family are safe and unhurt after the robber’s invasion. According to Bovi, the bandits carted away valuables and the security footage. See his post below:

WELCOME TO SamxieEXTRA

Search This Blog