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Protesters set fire to US embassy in Honduras

Soldiers extinguish burning tires, set alight at the entrance of the US embassy by demonstrators during a protest against President Juan Orlando Hernandez government's plans to privatize healthcare and education, in Tegucigalpa, Honduras May 31, 2019. (Photo by Reuters)

Protesters set fire to the US embassy Honduras, a day after tens of thousands of Hondurans marched to demand the resignation of President Juan Orlando Hernandez.

The demonstrators set fire to the entrance of the building in downtown ​​Tegucigalpa with about a dozen tires after dousing them with fuel on Friday. A fire department official said there were no damage to the embassy apart from the access gate.

The attack came on the second day of protests over decrees by Hernandez that his critics argue will lead to the privatization of public services.

The protesters were pushed toward the embassy after being dispersed from a nearby commercial zone by police nearby.

They chanted "American trash, American trash" outside the embassy, which was not being guarded at the time of the attack.

A court filing earlier this week showed that Hernandez had been investigated by US authorities as part of a drug trafficking and money laundering probe linked to his brother. The president has not been charged with any crime.

Hernandez has faced stiff opposition in Honduras since he claimed a second term in a highly divisive election at the end of 2017.

Hernandez, a conservative US ally, rode out protests against his re-election after he was recognized as the victor by countries including the United States.


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