(CNN) Chilean President Sebastian Pinera announced Wednesday that his country, which has been paralyzed by protests over the last two weeks, will no longer host two major international summits.

Clashes at demonstrations in the capital of Santiago have left at least 20 people dead and led to the resignation of eight key ministers from Pinera's cabinet.

The President has now canceled the hosting of the economic APEC forum and COP25 environmental summit, which were both due to take place later this year.

"It deeply pains our government to announce -- because this is painful for Chile -- that we will not hold the APEC summit, which was scheduled to take place in November, or the COP25 summit, scheduled to take place in December," Pinera said during a televised announcement at La Moneda presidential palace in Santiago.

"We are deeply sorry for the problems and inconveniences this decision will cause for both APEC and COP," Pinera said. "As the president of all Chileans I always have to put the problems and interests of Chileans first. Their needs and hopes."

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