More than 20 dead in riots in two prisons in Ecuador 0:55
(CNN Spanish) -
Ecuador's president, Guillermo Lasso, announced a state of emergency in the country's prison system in an effort to tackle the crisis caused by the riots in two prisons in Guayaquil and Latacunga, which left at least 20 dead and 40 injured.
According to Lasso, the purpose is "to mobilize all the human and financial resources necessary to restore order."
During a press conference from Latacunga, the president stressed that order has been restored in the prisons and that the riots on Wednesday were between criminal gangs.
In addition, he sent a message to those who "intend to intimidate" the country.
"They are wrong if they believe that this government is going to act with the same lukewarmness as the previous ones. They are wrong if they believe that our hand is going to shake," he said.
"All of you will be defeated. We are going to use the full power of the law to impose the rule of law, guarantee peace and human rights in the prisons of Ecuador," he added.
Lasso also announced that military control has been established in the perimeter of access to prisons and police control in the filters of the prisons.
He also reported that Colonel Fausto Cobo Moncayo will be the new director of the National Service for Comprehensive Attention to Adults Deprived of Liberty.
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Lasso sympathized with the police officer who was raped during one of the riots on Wednesday.
On this, he said: "We are already acting together with the Prosecutor's Office."