President of Guatemala rejects calls to resign amid fierce protests

GUATEMALA CITY, Aug. 24 (UPI) -- President of Guatemala Otto Perez Molina rejected calls for his resignation as part of a bribery corruption scandal, where nearly 30 people have been arrested.

Eight members of Perez Molina's government have resigned over the allegations and former Vice President Roxana Baldetti was arrested Friday on corruption charges three months after being forced out of office.

"I will not resign, and I will fully face and submit to the procedures that correspond to the law," Perez Molina said in a televised address Sunday night. "I categorically reject any link."

Those linked to the scandal are accused of taking millions of dollars in bribes from businessmen who were attempting to avoid more expensive tariffs.

The scandal caused daily protests in Guatemala.

"We demanded since April the resignation of Otto Perez Molina, whom I personally do not consider a president," protester Pamela Sarabia told CNN Español. "We want it to be formalized. We believe it is a necessary first step to find a better way."

One sign a protester was holding read: "Otto Perez resign now! Are you listening, useless?"

Multiple government ministers and allies to the president, who are not connected to the scandal, resigned recently in attempts to distance themselves from a government that has lost credibility.

Guatemala is set for presidential elections beginning early September with a second round expected later in October.

Due to electoral laws, Perez Molina is prohibited from seeking another term. His current term ends Jan. 14.