Ecuador President ousted in coup?

QUITO (ECUADOR), JAN. 22. Ecuador's military chief said early today that a three-man provisional junta that took power after a chaotic rebellion had been dissolved and that the Vice-President, Mr. Gustavo Noboa, would assume power.

There was no immediate word on when or if Mr. Noboa would assume the presidency. Nor was there any confirmation that President, Mr. Jamil Mahuad, had resigned the office.

Mr. Noboa said he would assume the Andean country's presidency with the support of the armed forces and national police. He told presspersons that, ``I have the support of the armed forces and national police.'' However, the legal basis for his move was not clear.

The military chief, Gen. Carlos Mendoza, said in an interview on the Ecuador radio that he had joined the junta to ``prevent bloodshed.'' Gen. Mendoza said his decision to dissolve the junta came after discussions with U.S. officials.

The development followed a whirlwind of events that began yesterday morning when Indian protesters joined by junior military officers stormed Congress and the Supreme Court demanding Mr. Mahuad's ouster.

Gen. Mendoza, Chairman of Ecuador's joint chiefs and Defence Minister since last week, later requested Mr. Mahuad's resignation and the President had abandoned the presidential palace.

Scores of heavily armed soldiers in combat fatigues took over the palace and Gen. Mendoza announced late yesterday the formation of a three-man provisional junta consisting of him, an Indian leader and a former Supreme Court justice.

Ecuador's neighbors and the U.S. objected and the U.S. officials said any overthrow of the constitutional order would mean that a severing of aid from Washington and a boycott by international investors.

Mr. Carlos Solorzano, former Supreme Court judge who was part of the junta, told AP that Mr. Mahuad would be tried, though he did not specify for what. Many Ecuadoreans accuse Mr. Mahuad of protecting corrupt bankers and officials.

Gen. Mendoza told reporters that the junta did not know Mr. Mahuad's whereabouts.

Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Section  : International
Previous : G-7 meet: Ministers issue alert against graft
Next     : Russia bogged down in Grozny