Pambamarquito (Ecuador) (AFP)

The crisis triggered in Ecuador by a sharp rise in fuel prices continued on Saturday with road blocks by peasants and natives, AFP reporters reported.

In Oton, north of the capital Quito, traffic was interrupted on the Panamerican Highway, where dams were erected with tall trees, tons of earth and truck tires.

These roadblocks were erected at several points along the road and at the entrance to the village of Pambamarquito, where about 200 protesters, including women armed with machetes, protested against the government's removal of President Lenin Moreno from public subsidies. fuels.

The elimination of these subsidies totaling $ 1.3 billion - Ecuador's economy is dollarized - has resulted in fuel price increases of up to 123%.

The US gallon (3.79 liters) of diesel rose from $ 1.03 to $ 2.30 and a gallon of regular gasoline from 1.85 to 2.40.

Protests have been taking place daily since last Wednesday, when President Moreno announced the removal of subsidies under an agreement between Ecuador and the International Monetary Fund (IMF). In exchange for the elimination of these subsidies, Quito can access credits amounting to 4.209 billion dollars.

Authorities on Saturday identified roadblocks in Pinchicha, Cotopaxi, Imbabura, Loja, Tungurahua and Morona Santiago provinces.

"It's an unlimited strike, we made a firm decision, we're fighting," said Peter Calo, an indigenous leader in the Cotopaxi province.

Moreno instituted a state of emergency on Thursday for 60 days and instructed the armed forces to restore order, while unrest affected Quito and the port of Guayaquil, the country's commercial center, in the south. -Where is.

Groups of soldiers and police on Saturday patrolled the suburbs of Quito.

Schools are closed since Thursday. The carriers went on strike Thursday and Friday then stopped their movement without having obtained the increases of the tariffs of transport which they claimed to compensate for the rise of the fuels.

The protests, involving students and opponents of President Moreno, left 59 policemen injured and 379 people arrested, according to the government's latest report on Friday.

Moreno has postponed a visit to Germany planned next week because of the crisis, announced the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Jose Valencia.

© 2019 AFP