GUATEMALA CITY, Nov. 21 (Xinhua) -- A demonstration against the approval of the 2021 budget in Guatemala ended up Saturday with a fire at the congressional building in the Guatemalan capital.

Some protesters approached the headquarters of the Legislative Palace, where they threw objects with fire into the offices of the Congress building. Guatemala's volunteer and municipal firefighters had to intervene to control the flames.

Images released by firefighters show that the furniture in some congressional offices was almost completely consumed by the fire.

President Alejandro Giammattei condemned the acts of violence via his Twitter on Saturday.

"I reiterate that we have the right to demonstrate according to the law. But we cannot allow it to vandalize public or private property. Whoever is proven to have participated in these criminal acts will be punished with the full force of the law," the president said.

The approval of the 2021 budget, which cuts spendings on education and healthcare, has caused high political tension in Guatemala as many sectors also oppose the increase of public debt proposed by the government.

Vice president Guillermo Castillo said he called on Giammattei on Friday to resign with him. Enditem

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