Honduran president starts new term as fiery protests erupt

[Judi Lynn]

By FREDDY CUEVAS, ASSOCIATED PRESS
TEGUCIGALPA, Honduras — Jan 27, 2018, 4:37 PM ET

President Juan Orlando Hernandez was sworn in for a new term in the Honduran capital Saturday, while across town tear gas drifted across flaming barricades in clashes between police and protesters angry over an election the say was marred by fraud.

The head of Congress put the blue-and-white sash of office on Hernandez in the morning ceremony in Tegucigalpa, and the president promised in an address "to begin a process of reconciliation to unite the Honduran family."

The inauguration came after soldiers and riot police fired tear gas to block thousands of demonstrators from marching to the National Stadium to protest. Masked protesters shot rocks from slingshots and kicked canisters back toward security forces as barricades burned and gas billowed on the streets.

"This is how the dictator oppresses his people," said opposition presidential candidate Salvador Nasralla, who says the election was stolen and he was the true winner of the vote.

More:
http://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/honduran-president-starts-term-protests-erupt-52651435