Ecuadorian President Daniel Noboa survived gunfire targeting his convoy, a minister said on Tuesday, after hundreds of protesters against rising diesel fuel prices tried to attack the convoy.
Environment Minister Ines Manzano said, “About 500 people showed up and started throwing stones at (the president’s motorcade), and there were bullet marks on the president’s car.”
She added, “Praise be to God, our president is very strong and courageous, and he continues to move forward and pursue his agenda as usual.”
The government broadcast a video clip that it said was filmed from inside the procession, showing demonstrators wrapping themselves in flags, scrambling to pick up stones and pieces of bricks to throw them as the president’s car passed.
In the video, a voice can be heard saying, “Cover your head!” Cover your head!” While the projectiles hit the SUV, shattering at least one window.
For days, Ecuador has been facing demonstrations, sometimes interspersed with violence, to protest the government’s decision to raise diesel prices.
The government accused drug trafficking gangs competing for control of cocaine trade routes of being behind the riots.
