At least fifty people were injured and several killed in struggles around Quito's National Police Hospital where Ecuador's President Rafael Correa was taken Thursday after being injured by a tear gas canister shot at him by a protesting police officer.
Insurgent police kept the president in the hospital for 12 hours until army units arrived and fought gun battles with the police elements. After some struggle inside the hospital, the army grabbed the president and swept him away to the national palace in an SUV.
For a good video of the struggle and Correa's post kidnapping remarks, look at the Associated Press video report at:
http://news.yahoo.com/video/world-15749633/22218636 .During the hectic hours Thursday, it was unclear who was with and who was against the president. From the beginning, General Ernesto Gonzalez, the top army commander, declared support for Correa, but it was not until after midnight that the army began to move against the rebel police.
It all began around 8AM Thursday when elements of the 33,000 member National Police force began to protest a new law that would restructure their promotions and bonuses. Like many nations in the world, Ecuador is facing serious economic difficulties and the squeeze is on. The new law was still in the preliminary stages and had yet to be actually enacted into law.
Reports put the numbers of National Police in the streets at 10 percent of the whole force, or some 3,000 armed and angry cops causing havoc, shutting down two main airports and burning tires to close off city streets. elements of the army and air force were reportedly also involved.
Correa is a handsome, 47-year-old American-educated economist elected president in 2006 and re-elected last year in the first round, without a run-off. The last time that happened was 31 years ago. The decade prior to Correa's arrival was noted for its many short-lived, revolving door presidencies.
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