AlQa'dah 13, 1436, August 28, 2015, SPA -- Thousands of people demonstrated Thursday across Guatemala to demand that President Otto Perez step down from power amid serious corruption allegations, according to dpa. Demonstrators gathered at a large rally before the presidential palace in Guatemala City, while in other areas there were strikes and road blockades. The business community for the first time joined protestors, and employers' associations issues a statement to support their demands. Many businesses closed in protest and allowed employees to take part in demonstrations. Earlier this week, prosecutors in the Central American country renewed their hefty allegations of corruption against the president. Perez denies the accusations. Guatemala has been shaken for months by a series of corruption scandals. Last Friday, Perez's former vice president Roxana Baldetti was arrested for embezzlement. Investigators believe that Perez also engaged in embezzlement involving the country's customs service and other entities. Next week, the Guatemalan legislature is expected to vote on whether to strip him of his immunity as president. Guatemala is set to hold a general election on September 6. Perez, whose mandate runs until January, is not a candidate. Guatemalan law does not allow re-election of the president.
