“If you want to kill the president, here he is,” he said. “Kill him, if you want to. Kill him if you

[groovedaddy]

are brave enough." President Rafael Correa - Ecuador

Standoff in Ecuador Ends With Leader’s Rescue

CARACAS, Venezuela — Ecuadorean soldiers stormed a police hospital Thursday night in Quito where President Rafael Correa was held by rebellious elements of the police forces, and rescued him amid an exchange of gunfire in an effort to end a tense standoff between Mr. Correa and hundreds of protesting police officers and military personnel.

Speaking shortly after the rescue operation, which involved about 500 soldiers who entered the hospital grounds wearing gas masks, Mr. Correa delivered a fiery speech from the balcony of the presidential palace and blamed “infiltrated elements” of the security forces for the day’s events.

It was unclear if anyone died during the rescue, although Mr. Correa said that at least five people had been wounded.

The operation came during a state of emergency declared Thursday in Ecuador after Mr. Correa was caught at one point earlier in the day in an angry scrum of officers at a barracks in the Quito and was physically assaulted. He was tear-gassed, shoved, insulted and pelted with water, and emerged gasping for air.

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/10/01/world/americas/01ecuador.html?th&emc=th

[Judi Lynn]

1. On the subject of people killed, two policemen, and one civilian were killed already,

and there are 5 people critically wounded.

Rafael Correa directly challenged, on camera, those who were hiding in the crowd below him, like cowards to take their best shot at him. He was entirely furious, dead serious.

Very powerful, credible behavior for a real leader. Awe-inspiring.