Reuters AlertNet Lite - Ecuadorean protesters break into election court

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Ecuadorean protesters break into election court

23 Jan 2007 19:42:07 GMT
Source: Reuters

QUITO, Jan 23 (Reuters) - Supporters of Ecuadorean President Rafael Correa on Tuesday broke into the country's election court to pressure officials to approve his request for a referendum on whether to rewrite the constitution.

Correa, a left-wing ally of Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez, was elected in November promising sweeping reforms to curtail the influence of traditional parties which many Ecuadoreans blame for the Andean nation's political turmoil.

Dozens of protesters waving the lime green flags of Correa's political movement climbed over walls and forced their way into the court building chanting "Say 'yes' to the Assembly" before they were controlled by police.

The protests underscore growing political tensions between Correa and Congress in a country where lawmakers have helped topple three elected presidents in the last decade.

Supporters of the left-leaning president believe that if the court sends the proposal to Congress, opposition lawmakers would try to water down Correa's plan for a vote on whether to call a popular assembly to rewrite the constitution.

Opposition political parties are opposed to Correa's ideas for constitutional reform because they believe he will seek to bypass them and undermine their authority. Correa, a U.S.-trained economist, says the reforms are needed to curb party influence in the courts and other institutions.

A court spokesman said the seven-member court was trying to resume its meeting to rule on the government's referendum.

"These are very strange conditions and we don't know if we can continue with our session," tribunal judge Hernan Rivadeneira told reporters.

Ecuador's chief police commander resigned later on Tuesday in protest over the new government's attempts to reform the police, hit by a slew of corruption scandals.

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Last updated:Tue Jan 23 19:43:59 2007