SAN SALVADOR, El Salvador (AP) - Masked protesters seized the San Salvador cathedral Wednesday, demanding President-elect Tony Saca pull Salvadoran soldiers out of Iraq. Saca, who takes office June 1, has said he will leave El Salvador's nearly 379-member detachment in Iraq until August, as planned, despite the early departures of the Spanish troops under which they were serving.
About 50 people wearing ski masks stormed the cathedral and kicked out visitors and faithful. They sealed the doors and hung banners protesting everything from the government's health policy to a proposed U.S.-Central America free trade agreement. They also demanded that Saca rehire about 150 government employees who were recently fired.
| Sounds like some disgruntled leftie rebels up to no good. |
They remained in control of the Roman Catholic church late Wednesday night and were spending the night there.
| Wonder if they'll trash it Paleo-style? |
Earlier in the day, police used tear gas and clubs to clear away dozens of protesters left outside the church and detained three people. Skirmishing outside the building continued sporadically. Demonstrators and police clashed dozens of times during the day, often violently, and protesters burned a van belonging to a television station as well as nearby phone booths.
"This isn't the way to talk to the government," Saca said of the protest.
| But you'd better show them with more than just words. |
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