Interior Minister David Napoleón Barrientos has quit. His is the first high-profile departure since nationwide protests began in Guatemala on 2 October over demands for US-sanctioned attorney general María Consuelo Porras to resign and the result of the presidential run-off to be respected. Porras had demanded Barrientos go, accusing him of failing to heed a court order to clear blockades, as President Alejandro Giammattei toughened his stance, declaring them illegal [WR-23-41]. With Barrientos reportedly favouring dialogue with protesters over the use of force, there are fears that his successor, Byron René Bor Illescas, may pursue a more heavy-handed approach to the unrest, which has already turned deadly.End of preview - This article contains approximately 880 words.
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