Protesters set fire to Guatemala's Congress building

7,000 demonstrate against health and education cuts amid Covid and hurricane crises

Hundreds of protesters broke into Guatemala's Congress and burned part of the building on Saturday amid growing demonstrations against president Alejandro Giammattei and the legislature for approving a budget that cut educational and health spending.

The protest came as about 7,000 people were demonstrating in front of the National Palace in Guatemala City against the budget, which protesters say was negotiated and passed by legislators in secret while the Central American country was distracted by the fallout of back-to-back hurricanes and the Covid-19 pandemic.