Colombia spat boosts Correa's approval in Ecuador

[Judi Lynn]

Source: Reuters

Colombia spat boosts Correa's approval in Ecuador
Wed Apr 2, 2008 9:47pm EDT

QUITO, April 2 (Reuters) - A border dispute with Colombia has helped rebound Ecuadorean President Rafael Correa's popularity in March after it had dropped to record lows the previous month, a poll showed on Wednesday.

The Cedatos-Gallup poll said Correa's approval rating rose to 62 percent in March from 54 percent the previous month, its lowest since he took office more than a year ago.

The leftist leader's strong response against a March 1 Colombian military strike in Ecuadorean soil that killed more than 20 people including a top guerrilla leader won him wide support.

The bombing raid briefly raised the threat of war after Ecuador and Venezuela moved troops to their border with Colombia, but the crisis eased during a regional meeting a week later.



Read more: http://www.reuters.com/article/oilRpt/idUSN0242435020080403

[Tempest]

1. 54% approval rating is a record low?

Bush must be envious as hell.

[AlphaCentauri]

2. for somebody who respect the presidency of a country 50% is a low approval n/t

[Tempest]

3. I don't agree

A low approval is less than 50%.

54% is respectable.

[Judi Lynn]

4. Ecuador says close to securing new oil deals

Ecuador says close to securing new oil deals
Thu Apr 3, 2008 1:20pm EDT
By Alonso Soto

QUITO (Reuters) - Ecuador hopes to sign the first batch of agreements with foreign oil firms to increase state participation in contracts by next week, Oil Minister Galo Chiriboga said on Thursday.

"The president has the final word ... but I hope next week we can start signing understanding memorandums," he said, speaking at the Reuters Latin America Investment Summit.

Ecuador is reworking foreign oil contracts as part of leftist President Rafael Correa's aggressive campaign to boost state control over key sectors of the economy from oil to mining.

The companies renegotiating their deals include Brazil's Petrobras (PETR4.SA: Quote, Profile, Research), France's Perenco, China's consortium Andes Petroleum (0857.HK: Quote, Profile, Research) and Spain's Repsol (REP.MC: Quote, Profile, Research)

More:
http://www.reuters.com/article/rbssEnergyNews/idUSN0323811120080403?rpc=401&