Ecuador: Seven dead, over 1000 injured in mass protest against fuel subsidies

Ecuador : At least seven people have been reported dead and over 1000 injured in the mass protests in Ecuador against the abolition of fuel subsidies.

"A total of 1,152 people were detained, seven were killed, 1,340 were injured," the ombudsman's office wrote on Twitter on Monday, according to Sputnik.

The national capital was put on a curfew and under military control by the President Lenin Moreno following mass protests from several days against his government's decision to cancel fuel subsidy.

"I have imposed a curfew and military control in Quito and its surroundings. It will come into effect starting 15:00 [local time, 20:00 GMT]. It will facilitate the activities of law enforcement agencies against excessive violence," Sputnik quoted the President as saying on Twitter.

The decision to abort fuel subsidy was taken on the lines of agreement between the Ecuadorian government and the International Monetary Fund to be eligible for a USD 4.2 billion loan.

Earlier that week, Moren had announced the decision to end decades-long fuel subsidies for people in view that the state could no longer afford them, and the cuts could help the country save an estimated USD 2.27 billion a year.

The mass protests erupted with a sudden increase in the fuel prices. Amid civil unrest, the government has declared a national emergency for the two months.