US ambassador: Ecuador's government is not collaborating with Colombian guerrillas

[Judi Lynn]

Source: Associated Press

US ambassador: Ecuador's government is not collaborating with Colombian guerrillas

July 20, 2008 2:15 PM

QUITO, Ecuador (AP) - A U.S. diplomat insists the United States ''in no way'' believes Ecuador's government has ties to leftist Colombian guerrillas.

Outgoing U.S. ambassador to Ecuador Linda Jewell says that the U.S. does not think Ecuador is working with the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, Latin America's largest armed rebel group.

Jewell's comments appeared Sunday in Guayaquil's El Universo newspaper. Calls to confirm them with the U.S. embassy in Quito went unanswered Sunday.

Colombia bombed a FARC camp in Ecuador on March 1 and found laptops with documents that it claims link Ecuador's president to the rebels - a charge he denies.

Jewell, who leaves her post Tuesday, says Ecuador's government has worked harder than its predecessor to patrol its Colombian border.



Read more: http://www.newspress.com/Top/Article/article.jsp?Section=WORLD&ID=565336258994635861

[Peace Patriot]

1. This important article got kind of lost in the floods of DU news.

Perhaps you should re-post it. What an extraordinary thing for a Bush-appointed ambassador to do--tell the truth, in the teeth of non-stop Bushite propaganda!

[Judi Lynn]

2. Ecuador draft constitution passed

Page last updated at 05:12 GMT, Friday, 25 July 2008 06:12 UK
Ecuador draft constitution passed

A special constituent assembly in Ecuador has overwhelmingly approved a draft of a new constitution sought by the country's President, Rafael Correa.

Ninety-four of the 130 assembly members backed the text, which will be put to a national referendum on 28 September.

The left-wing leader says the reforms, which would allow him to stand again, will tackle political instability and make Ecuador a more just society.

But critics say they will focus more power in the president's hands.

Mr Correa, who made reforming the constitution a key part of his 2007 election campaign, enjoys widespread popular support in his country.

More:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/7524680.stm