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Protesters and riot police clash in Honduras

Reuters Demonstrators form the words "JOH Out" during a protest against Honduras" President Juan Orlando Hernandez and his government in Tegucigalpa, Honduras, January 27, 2019.Reuters
Demonstrators form the words "JOH (Juan Orlando Hernández) Out" in Tegucigalpa

Anti-government demonstrators in Honduras have clashed with riot police during protest marking the first anniversary of the inauguration of President Juan Orlando Hernández.

Thousands of people took the streets in the capital, Tegucigalpa, and across the country, demanding his resignation.

Mr Hernández, a conservative pro-US politician, won re-election in 2017 by a narrow margin.

The opposition has accused him of electoral fraud.

AFP Supporters of the LIBRE opposition party mount burning roadblocks on streets and avenues during protests in Tegucigalpa on January 27, 2019. -AFP
Roads were blocked in the capital and other cities

"There are people who have been gassed and beaten," said the opposition leader and former President, Manuel Zelaya.

"Like wasps, we have launched a wave of escalating protests that will end in a national strike until this dictatorship falls."

Mr Hernández, who is widely known by his initials, JOH, has repeatedly denied allegations of irregularities.

He defeated the popular television presenter, Salvador Nasralla, by 1.53 percentage points.

EPA Supporters of the political party Libertad y Refundacion (LIBRE) clash with police, in Tegucigalpa, Honduras, 27 January 2019.EPA
Opposition activists have vowed to escalate the protests

Mr Hernández stood for office after the Supreme Court controversially lifted a constitutional ban on re-election.

The opposition contested the electoral process and challenged his victory.

But the result was confirmed by the Honduran electoral court almost a month after the vote, following a partial recount.

Reuters Honduras President Juan Orlando Hernandez speaks during a news conference with Guatemala's President Jimmy Morales (unseen), for the situation of the large caravan of Central American migrants trying to reach the United States, in Tegucigalpa, Honduras November 5, 2018.Reuters
Mr Hernández is one of President Trump's closest allies in Latin America

During Sunday's protests Mr Hernández was at a Catholic youth meeting hosted by Pope Francis in Panama.

He met the Pope and asked him to include Honduras in his prayers.

Honduras is one of Latin America's poorest countries and has one of the world's highest murder rates.

Thousands, escaping poverty and gang-related violence, have joined the latest migrant caravans heading towards the United States southern border.