Protesters Seize San Salvador's Cathedral, Demand Troops Be Withdrawn from Iraq
By Diego Mendez Associated Press Writer
Published: Apr 28, 2004
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.
They remained in control of the Roman Catholic church late Wednesday night and were spending the night there.
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