Ecuador coup death toll rises to four

[Judi Lynn]

Ecuador coup death toll rises to four
October 2010 | 09:44:08 AM | Source: AAP

Four people were killed and 193 wounded in a police uprising that rocked the Ecuadoran capital, the government said on Friday, revising an earlier toll of two killed and 37 hurt.

The four were killed when street clashes broke out Thursday as the military launched an operation to free President Rafael Correa from the hospital where he was surrounded by rebel police.

The leftist president, who has been in office since 2007, returned to work under tight security on Friday.

http://www.sbs.com.au/news/article/1370582/Ecuador-coup-death-toll-rises-to-four

[Judi Lynn]

1. Five killed amid Ecuador attempted 'coup'

Five killed amid Ecuador attempted 'coup'
At least five people died and dozens of police and civilians were injured amid protests in Ecuador's capital.

By Ben Westwood in Quito
Published: 10:52PM BST 01 Oct 2010

Ecuador's police chief resigned on Friday and the country remained in a state of emergency one day after an uprising by officers who held President Rafael Correa for more than 10 hours.

Army special forces stormed the hospital where Mr Correa was being held and rescued him after a tense standoff .

A defiant Mr Correa condemned the police rebellion as an attempted coup.

"We will never accept negotiation under pressure, but only dialogue," he said, later adding: "The coup attempt may have roots out there, we have to find them and pull them up."

Mr Correa called the renegade policemen "cowards", claiming they had not even read the law they were opposing, and vowed that there would be "no pardon or forgiveness". The new law would reduce their benefits and limit salary increases.

More:
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/southamerica/ecuador/8038081/Five-killed-amid-Ecuador-attempted-coup.html

[rabs]

2. Ecuador media says four

One Special Forces noncom in the rescue force.

Two police

A university student among the supporters of Correa who went to the hospital. Correa said the student was 24 years old and "his head was emptied" when two bullets hit it.

One of the police was among loyal police who were escorting Correa from the hospital. He was a motorcycle cop.

Correa said another police officer had handed him his bullet-proof vest, and the cop was promply shot through the lung. He is one of the many wounded. Correa said some were in critical condition.

[Judi Lynn]

3. Thanks for the direct info. Very sad news.Correa took each one hard. What a shame they're gone. n/t

[rabs]

4. Eight dead, 274 wounded or injured

Official figures from the Health Ministry tonight. Four killed in Guayaquil said to have been looters.

Three high-ranking police officers, colonels, were detained in Quito the past few hours. They are the first of many who will be rounded up. The trio are being held for at least 24 hours at a police headquarters and will be taken before a judge who will determine if they should be jailed.


(Info from O Estado de Sao Paulo online.)

Efe
QUITO - Três coronéis da Polícia do Equador foram os primeiros detidos pelo motim que manteve retido o presidente da República, Rafael Correa, durante quase todo o dia na quinta-feira, 1, segundo a imprensa local.


Os coronéis Manuel Rivadeneira, Julio César Cueva e Marcelo Echeverría terão que passar 24 horas na sede da Polícia Judiciária de Quito.

Posteriormente, deverão comparecer perante um juiz, que terá a responsabilidade de decidir se os mantém ou não na prisão.

Correa acusou os amotinados de terem tentado matá-lo enquanto estava preso no hospital.

O líder foi libertado por um contingente de militares e policiais de elite fiéis ao governo, mas durante os distúrbios em todo o país morreram oito pessoas, enquanto 274 ficaram feridas, segundo o Ministério da Saúde.