Ecuador president 'holed up'

2005-04-23 08:41

Quito - Ousted Ecuadoran leader Lucio Gutierrez was holed up at the Brazilian embassy early on Saturday as his country's new government, without international recognition, refused him safe passage into exile.

Gutierrez told local television he had been removed from office "unconstitutionally and without political trial.

"I am not a thief. I have not stolen, to the contrary, I was collecting the debts from the thieves," he said by telephone from Brazil's embassy in his first statement since being toppled Wednesday.

The government under President Alfredo Palacios, 66, has given conflicting statements about allowing Gutierrez to fly to Brazil as protesters demanded he remain in Ecuador to face charges.

Ecuadoran Foreign Minister Antonio Parra Gil said, "Brazil ... has granted asylum, but we are not granting safe passage."

Earlier, however, new Interior Minister Mauricio Gandara said, "If Brazil requests safe passage, safe passage cannot be denied."

Brazil granted Gutierrez asylum and has a plane on standby ready to fly him to Brazil.

Riot police guarded the Brazilian embassy as scores of demonstrators outside demanded Gutierrez be sent to jail instead of exile and pelted the embassy walls with eggs and garbage.

Businessman Cesar Vallejo blocked the embassy gate with his luxury car and said, "I'll move my car only to take Gutierrez to jail."

Attorney General Cecilia Armas has called for the deposed president's arrest for ordering police to forcibly disperse demonstrations this week in which two people were killed and scores injured.

Demonstrators shouted "coward" and called for charges against the deposed president. Some hoisted signs demanding "Prison for Gutierrez" and chanted: "Brazil, Don't Betray Ecuador."

A Brazilian air force jet meanwhile was stationed in Porto Velho, in northwest Brazil, awaiting authorization to fly to Quito.

In Washington, the Organisation of American States late Friday decided to dispatch a special mission to Ecuador to investigate the removal of Gutierrez from power.

A resolution adopted by the group said the mission will include the chairman of the OAS Permanent Council, Acting Secretary General Alberto Borea of Peru as well as representatives of subregional groups.

It will leave for Ecuador as soon as possible "to work with officials of that country and with all sectors of Ecuadoran society in their effort to strengthen democracy," the document said.

The mission is expected to submit a report to this council on the outcome of its efforts.

Gandara warned that if the OAS or anyone else tried to "put colonel Gutierrez back in the presidency, that will spill rivers of blood in Ecuador."

Meanwhile, Brazilian, Bolivian and Peruvian foreign ministers said they may go to Quito to mediate the crisis.

- AFP