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      Guatemala: Protesters call for President Molina's resignation in Guatemala City00:55

      Guatemala: Protesters call for President Molina's resignation in Guatemala City

      Guatemala, Guatemala City
      Politics
      August 27, 2015 at 08:51 GMT +00:00 · Published

      Businesses went on strike, closing their doors for the day, and thousands of people took to the streets in Guatemala City on Thursday, protesting against the government of President Otto Perez Molina. The president has found himself under pressure to resign after a corruption scandal surrounding his government rocked the nation.

      Earlier in the week former Vice-President Roxana Baldetti was ordered by a judge to stand trial on charges of conspiracy, customs fraud and bribery relating to allegations that she accepted $3.7 million (€3.2 million) in bribes as part of a customs scandal that has rocked the current Guatemalan government. Prosecutors allege that Baldetti and other officials accepted the bribes to help a number of businesses evade customs duties.

      As a result of the scandal, known as 'La Linea' (The Line), eight government members have resigned and over 30 people have been detained by police. Molina has rejected any link to the scandal but the Guatemalan Supreme Court has already taken the first steps in allowing impeachment proceedings against the current leader to commence.

      Guatemala: Protesters call for President Molina's resignation in Guatemala City00:55
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      Description

      Businesses went on strike, closing their doors for the day, and thousands of people took to the streets in Guatemala City on Thursday, protesting against the government of President Otto Perez Molina. The president has found himself under pressure to resign after a corruption scandal surrounding his government rocked the nation.

      Earlier in the week former Vice-President Roxana Baldetti was ordered by a judge to stand trial on charges of conspiracy, customs fraud and bribery relating to allegations that she accepted $3.7 million (€3.2 million) in bribes as part of a customs scandal that has rocked the current Guatemalan government. Prosecutors allege that Baldetti and other officials accepted the bribes to help a number of businesses evade customs duties.

      As a result of the scandal, known as 'La Linea' (The Line), eight government members have resigned and over 30 people have been detained by police. Molina has rejected any link to the scandal but the Guatemalan Supreme Court has already taken the first steps in allowing impeachment proceedings against the current leader to commence.

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