GUATEMALAN President Otto Perez Molina faced rising pressure to resign on Thursday over a corruption scandal engulfing his administration.

Business and government offices closed, protesters marched in their thousands and Attorney General Thelma Aldana urged Mr Perez to step down “to prevent ungovernability that could destabilise the nation.”

Guatemala’s congress also named a special commission of five legislators who will consider whether to strip the president of his immunity from prosecution.

However, only one member of the commission was from the opposition, and a previous effort in congress failed.

A defiant Mr Perez told a radio station: “I am here and I am not going to turn my back on the Guatemalan people.

“I am not going to hide … I have nothing to hide.”

The president was first elected in 2007 on a “firm hand” promise to fight crime by sending troops to patrol the streets alongside police.

He has been accused of involvement in genocide and torture during Guatemala’s 36-year dirty war against left-wing groups.