Paraguay president drops re-election bid

Paraguayan

President Horacio Cartes has said he will no longer seek re-election next year, after his bid to change the constitution triggered deadly riots.

Cartes said in a statement he will “in no event” try to run in the April 2018 vote, seeking to end a political crisis unleashed by his push to remain in power another five years. Police shot dead one opposition activist in a raid during the riots. Hundreds of people were injured and more than 200 arrested. Talks fell apart when the main opposition, the Liberal Party, boycotted them. (AFP)