Leonidas Iza, leader of the CONAIE indigenous organization, attends a meeting of indigenous organizations with government officials to discuss demands for lower fuel and food prices which have sparked two weeks of protests, in Quito, Ecuador June 27, 2022. REUTERS/Karen Toro
QUITO (Reuters) - Ecuador's President Guillermo Lasso said in a video on Tuesday that his government will not return to negotiations with indigenous leader Leonidas Iza, which were taking place in a bid to end more than two weeks of protests.
The government has made significant concessions to marchers, Lasso said, and would like the dialogue with indigenous groups, but will not speak with Iza.
"We will not return to dialogue with Leonidas Iza, who only defends his political interests and not those of his base. To our indigenous brothers, you deserve more than an opportunist for a leader," Lasso said.
(Reporting by Julia Symmes Cobb and Alexandra Valencia; Editing by Chris Reese)
