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The mayor of Bogota extended Friday, November 22, 2019 to the entire Colombian capital the curfew he had previously decreed for three popular neighborhoods south of the city of seven million people. Raul ARBOLEDA / AFP

Colombians mobilized again on Friday, 22 November, and a curfew was declared in Bogota after further violence in the aftermath of massive protests against President Ivan Duque, who called for a "national conversation."

The curfew, first imposed in three popular neighborhoods in southern Bogota, was extended to the entire capital of seven million people, in response to unrest and looting during the day.

" From eight in the evening (1:00 GMT Saturday) curfew in the neighborhoods of Bosa, Ciudad Bolivar and Kennedy. From nine o'clock in the evening, all over the city. The two curfews go until 6:00 am on Saturday (11:00 GMT), Mayor Enrique Peñalosa announced in a message to the media.

In the middle of the afternoon, a few hundred people had gathered for "cacerolazos" (cooking pots) including Bolivar Square, the historic heart of Bogota. But rallies in the capital then dispersed, riot police making use of stun grenades and tear gas.

Riot police shoot at protesters in the aftermath of a national strike against Colombian President Ivan Duque in Bogota on November 22, 2019. Raul ARBOLEDA / AFP

At the beginning of the day, the authorities had reported a return to tranquility throughout the country. But shortly thereafter, new incidents between residents of southern Bogota and the police, near urban transport stations, closed due to damage the day before.

Supermarkets were looted and buses attacked in the same area, in the wake of the biggest social mobilization in recent years against the national government.

On Friday morning, Mayor Peñalosa announced the introduction of the "dry law" (prohibition of sale of alcohol) until Saturday at midday, citing the fear of "vandals" may generate other violence. Later, in front of the press, he said that " nearly 20,000 " police and military were deployed in the capital, and made about 230 arrests.

National conversation

President Duque said on Twitter that he had contacted the mayor for an " assessment and follow-up of recent alterations to public order ". In a televised speech, he called for a " national conversation " scheduled for next week with the ultimate goal of " closing the social gaps ".

" This conversation will take place in the regions with all social and political sectors. I will use electronic means and participatory mechanisms (...) so that we all can build a meaningful path of reform, "he added.

(With agencies)