Ecuador’s President Guillermo Lasso said in televised remarks on Friday that he is willing to engage in talks on ending the protests that have paralyzed Quito and other parts of the country for almost two weeks.  

Lasso also accused the Indigenous leaders of the demonstrations of wanting to “overthrow the government.” Thousands of protesters say they are calling for economic and social policy change, and seek gasoline and agriculture price controls and a larger education budget from Lasso’s administration.

The protests have left six people dead and dozens injured.On Friday the International Monetary Fund approved the release of $1 billion in funding for Ecuador, meant to bolster Ecuador’s economic recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic, restore fiscal sustainability and reduce public debt.

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