In Pictures

In Pictures: Protests rock Ecuador’s capital

After days of deadly anti-austerity protests, meeting between President Moreno and indigenous leaders likely on Sunday.

Indigenous people perform a ritual during a protest in Quito, Ecuador, 11 October 2019. Hundreds of warriors from the Ecuadorian Amazon joined the protests of indigenous people in Quito against the go — Indigenous people perform a ritual during the protest in Quito. [Paolo Aguilar/EPA]

Violent demonstrations over the government’s austerity moves have left six people dead and nearly 2,100 wounded or detained, according to authorities in Ecuador.

Protesters on Saturday targeted a television station and a newspaper office, as well as setting fire to the comptroller general’s office, forcing President Lenin Moreno to impose a curfew on the capital, Quito, and call for talks with indigenous leaders.

The UN and the Catholic Church said that “after having contact with the government and the organisations of the indigenous movement, the first reunion for dialogue has been called for October 13” in Quito, according to a joint statement.

The crisis broke out at the start of October after Moreno ordered the lifting of fuel subsidies as part of a deal struck by his government to obtain a $4.2bn loan from the International Monetary Fund (IMF). The price of fuel has since more than doubled.

Ecuador’s army took to the streets after Moreno ordered the first 24-hour curfew in decades. It was the first such action imposed since a series of coups in the 1960s and 1970s.

By Saturday night, soldiers had retaken control of the park and streets leading to the National Assembly and the national comptroller’s office, which had been broken into by protesters who started fires inside the building.

Indigenous people form the Amazon take part in a protest in Quito, Ecuador, 11 October 2019. Hundreds of warriors from the Ecuadorian Amazon joined the protests of indigenous people in Quito against t — Hundreds of warriors from the Ecuadorian Amazon joined the protests against the government's economic measures [Paolo Aguilar/EPA]

Anti-government demonstrators man a barricade during clashes with the police, near the national assembly building in Quito, Ecuador, Saturday, Oct. 12, 2019. Indigenous leaders of protests that have p — Indigenous leaders of the protests - which have paralysed Ecuador’s economy for nearly a week - say they are willing to negotiate with President Lenin Moreno, signalling a possible exit from the crisis. [Dolores Ochoa/AP Photo]

Police clash with anti-government demonstrators in Quito, Ecuador, Friday, Oct. 11, 2019. Protests, which began when President Lenin Moreno''s decision to cut subsidies led to a sharp increase in fuel — Police clash with anti-government demonstrators in Quito. [Fernando Vergara/AP Photo]

Dozens of people participate in the tenth day of protests against the Government, East of Quito, Ecuador, 12 October 2019. The wave of protests in Ecuador, led by the indigenous movement with the sup — Demonstrators on Saturday ransacked and set fire to the building housing the comptroller general's office, which was shrouded in thick smoke after being attacked with firebombs. [Bienvenido Velasco/EPA]

Demonstrators run during a protest against Ecuador''s President Lenin Moreno''s austerity measures in Quito, Ecuador October 12, 2019. REUTERS/Henry Romero — Moreno said the military would enforce a 24-hour curfew in Quito and around critical infrastructure like power stations and hospitals in response to the violence. [Henry Romero/Reuters]

Police clash with demonstrators in a new day of protests in Quito, Ecuador, 11 October 2019. Thousands of indigenous people and protesters approached the headquarters of the Ecuadorian National Assemb — The violence forced Moreno to relocate his government to Ecuador's second city, Guayaquil [Jose Jacome/EPA]

Police members face a group of protesters during a new day of protests with indigenous presence in Quito, Ecuador, 11 October 2019. Hundreds of warriors from the Ecuadorian Amazon joined the protests — The oil industry was hit hard by the protests with the energy ministry suspending more than two-thirds of its distribution of crude. [Paolo Aguilar/EPA]

People use homemade gas masks made by Cesar Viteri in Quito, Ecuador, 10 October 2019. Viteri designed his own masks with reused plastic due the need to face tear gases during the clashes in Ecuador''s — People use homemade masks to face tear gas attacks during clashes. Thousands of individuals from disadvantaged indigenous communities in the Amazon and the Andes travelled to Quito where they are spearheading demands that the subsidies return. [Paolo Aguilar/EPA]

Protesters help a man during clashes with the police on the tenth day of protests against the government, in Quito, Ecuador, 12 October 2019. The wave of protests in Ecuador, led by the indigenous mov — The protests have left six people dead and nearly 2,100 wounded or detained, according to authorities. [Jose Jacome/EPA]

People take part in a protest against Ecuador''s President Lenin Moreno''s austerity measures in Quito, Ecuador October 12, 2019. REUTERS/Carlos Garcia Rawlins — A first meeting between Ecuador's president and indigenous leaders is expected on Sunday, the United Nations said [Carlos Garcia Rawlins/Reuters]