Paraguay: high-ranking officials sacked over activist's death

Amid simmering social unrest in Paraguay, the president has sacked the interior minister and chief of police.

The dismissals followed the fatal shooting of a 25-year-old protester Rodrigo Quintana after officers entered the headquarters of the opposition Liberal Party.

Four police officers have since been arrested.

Paraguayan President Horacio Cartes paid his respects to Quintana and his family.

“Any act that leads to the death of a young person is unjustifiable and a significant calamity. I offer my most sincere condolences to the family of Rodrigo Quintana. Rest assured that these acts will not go unpunished. Everyone responsible for this horrendous episode will face justice and will pay for what they’ve done,” he said in a video address.

Violent protests broke out over proposed constitutional changes that would allow the president to run for a second term in office. Re-election was outlawed in 1992, three years after the fall of a brutal dictatorship.

During the demonstrations, a group stormed Congress and set fire to the building.

There are fears of a return to the chaos seen in recent days if the lower house votes on the amendment next week.