Quito (AFP)
Ecuadorian carriers suspended their strike on Friday against rising fuel prices, which resulted in two days of protests and unrest.
"We are putting an end today to our movement," Abel Gomez, a transport leader, told a press conference with other industry officials.
Mr. Gomez called on the government to take measures that would allow the return to normal transport services in the country, placed since Thursday under exceptional conditions.
New fuel prices came into effect with an increase of about 100%: the price of a US gallon (3.7 liters) of diesel increased from $ 1.03 to $ 2.30, and the price per gallon of gasoline from 1.85 to 2.40 dollars.
The increase is the result of the dismantling of government subsidies for diesel and gasoline under an agreement reached in March with the International Monetary Fund (IMF). This agreement provides $ 4.2 billion in financial support for an economic reform program.
In a movement of unprecedented scale since 2007, the transport sector went on strike Thursday across the country to protest.
To compensate for the cost to them of these increases, the carriers are calling on the authorities to introduce higher transport tariffs.
Civil security reported 14 wounded civilians.
Despite the mobilization, President Moreno said on Friday that he would not come back on stopping subsidies.
© 2019 AFP