Lasso decrees a state of exception throughout Ecuador

(CNN Spanish) -

Ecuadorian President Guillermo Lasso announced his decision to decree a state of exception for "serious internal commotion" throughout the national territory to face the escalation of violence and murders in the streets that have generated fear and anxiety in the population, as he said during a message to the nation on Monday night.

Lasso described drug trafficking as the "main enemy" of Ecuador and ordered the mobilization of the Armed Forces in the provinces of Guayas, Pichincha, El Oro, Santa Elena, Los Ríos, Santo Domingo de Los Tsáchilas, Manabí, Esmeraldas and Sucumbíos to be presented the highest indicators of criminal activity.

In the rest of the Ecuadorian provinces, the Police must coordinate surveillance and crime prevention actions, as detailed in the presidential decree.