Ecuador President declares country under 'internal armed conflict'

Soldiers patrol following an outbreak of violence a day after Ecuador's President Daniel Noboa declared a 60-day state of emergency following the disappearance of Adolfo Macias, leader of the Los Choneros criminal gang from prison, in Quito, Ecuador, Jan. 9, 2024.

Ecuadorian President Daniel Noboa said Tuesday his country is in the grip of "internal armed conflict" amid growing violence across the South American country.

The president made the declaration hours after a group of masked men armed with guns and explosives stormed a public television station in the port city of Guayaquil during a live news program and fired shots in the studio.