Two killed, 19 injured in Honduran anti-government protests

Two people have been killed and 19 injured inprotests in the Honduran capital, where demonstrators are demandingthe resignation of President Juan Orlando Hernandez.The victims, 17 of whom had bullet wounds, arrived at the EscuelaUniversitario hospital overnight, the hospital said on Thursday.One of them, a 29-year-old man, died after having been shot in thehead. A 38-year-old man died from injuries caused by stabbing.Protesters meanwhile erected burning barricades on exit roads in thesouth of Tegucigalpa, daily El Heraldo reported.Some universities announced that they were suspending classes, whileHernandez called a meeting of the Defence and Security Council - thetop organ handling security and defence policy - to deal with thecrisis."[The] state of Honduras has the obligation to guarantee to thepeople the protection of their integrity and the enjoyment of theirrights, such as free movement, protection of public property andmore," the president tweeted.Honduras is one of the poorest and most violent countries in CentralAmerica. Thousands of people have left in recent months in an attemptto migrate to the United States. Meanwhile, anti-government protestshave been raging.The government cancelled reforms that protesters said would have ledto the privatization of the health and education sectors, butdemonstrators are continuing to demand Hernandez's resignation.Part of the police force, who are demanding better health and lifeinsurance benefits, joined the protests by going on strike this week.Truck drivers also went on strike, but the government said Thursdayit had reached an agreement with them.Police on Wednesday reported "a series of acts of vandalism inseveral parts of the national territory, causing economic losses anddamage to businesses."Local media reported looting, road blockages and fuel shortages inseveral regions.Hernandez won a second term in 2017 in elections marred byallegations of fraud.