Ecuador’s President Correa denounces ‘coup attempt’

Ecuador’s president has denounced a “coup attempt” after mass protests by

Mr Correa was forced to flee a protest at a barracks when tear gas was fired by angry troops

members of the security forces against his government’s austerity programme.

After being forced to flee a rally at a barracks in Quito, Rafael Correa said “the opposition and sections of the armed forces and police” were to blame.

Mr Correa said they would have to kill him first to achieve their goals.

On Wednesday, Congress passed a law ending bonuses and other benefits for civil servants, including the military.

But members of Mr Correa’s left-wing party have threatened to block proposals to shrink the bureaucracy, prompting him to consider disbanding Congress and ruling by decree until new elections.

Such a move would have to be approved by the Constitutional Court.

Airport closed

On Thursday morning, members of the armed forces and police angry at the austerity measures occupied several barracks and set up road blocks across Ecuador to demand they be abandoned by the government.

Television stations showed images of police setting tyres on fire in the streets of Quito, Guayaquil and other cities.

In a speech to soldiers from Quito’s main regiment, President Correa said: “If you want to kill the president, here he is. Kill him, if you want to. Kill him if you are brave enough.

But members of Mr Correa’s left-wing party have threatened to block proposals to shrink the bureaucracy, prompting him to consider disbanding Congress and ruling by decree until new elections.

Such a move would have to be approved by the Constitutional Court.

Airport closed

On Thursday morning, members of the armed forces and police angry at the austerity measures occupied several barracks and set up road blocks across Ecuador to demand they be abandoned by the government.

Television stations showed images of police setting tyres on fire in the streets of Quito, Guayaquil and other cities.

In a speech to soldiers from Quito’s main regiment, President Correa said:

“If you want to kill the president, here he is. Kill him, if you want to. Kill him if you are brave enough.

“If you want to seize the barracks, if you want to leave citizens undefended, if you want to betray the mission of the police force, go ahead. But this government will do what has to be done. This president will not take a step back.”

However, Mr Correa was forced to flee the barracks wearing a gas mask shortly afterwards when tear gas was fired by the protesters.

The president was later treated for the effects of the gas at a police hospital, from where he told local media that he had been “attacked”.

“They threw tear gas at us. One exploded near my face. It stunned me and my wife for a few seconds, probably minutes,” he said.

“It is a coup attempt led by the opposition and certain sections of the armed forces and the police,” he said. “Whatever happens to me I want to express my love for my family and my homeland.”

Meanwhile, about 300 air force personnel and soldiers took control of the runway at Mariscal Sucre International Airport, causing flights to be grounded.

The protesters carried signs demanding the government give more respect to the military over benefits, witnesses told the Reuters news agency.

The US embassy said Guayaquil’s airport was also closed.

Despite the unrest, the head of Armed Forces Joint Command, Gen Luis Ernesto Gonzalez Villarreal, said the troops remained loyal.

“We live in a state which is governed by laws, and we are subordinate to the highest authority which is the president of the republic,” he said.

“We will take whatever appropriate action the government decides on.”

The country’s central bank chief, Diego Borja, meanwhile urged its citizens not to withdraw money from the country’s banks amid reports of looting. Many schools and business were also closed because of the unrest.

One BBC News website reader in Guayaquil said three of the city’s banks had been robbed, and described Ecuador as a “disaster zone”.

“We don’t know what will happen,” he said. “There are no law enforcement agencies working. You can’t go out in the streets.”

The US state department said it was “closely monitoring” the situation.

Ecuador has a history of political instability. Protests toppled three presidents during economic turmoil in the decade before Mr Correa, a 47-year-old US-trained economist, took power in 2007.