Nov 21, 2020 - World

Guatemala protesters set fire to part of country's Congress building

Demonstrators set on fire part of the Congress building during a protest demanding the resignation of Guatemalan President Alejandro Giammattei, in Guatemala City on November 21

Demonstrators set on fire part of the Congress building during a protest in Guatemala City on Saturday. Photo: Orlando Estrada/AFP via Getty Images

Guatemalan riot police moved in to quell unrest after hundreds of demonstrators stormed the country's Congress and set fire to part of the building Saturday, per the BBC.

The big picture: Some 7,000 protesters rallied in Guatemala City to demand President Alejandro Giammattei resign over the 2021 budget passed earlier in the week, which cut funds to COVID-19 programs but "approved $65,000" to cover politicians' meals, per AP. Opposition lawmakers said firms with government connections got priority for "big infrastructure projects," the BBC notes.

Editor's note: This article has been updated with news of the riot police moving in.

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