Former Daily Post journalist caught up in Ecuador coup attempt

[Judi Lynn]

Former Daily Post journalist caught up in Ecuador coup attempt
Oct 2 2010 by Eryl Crump, Daily Post

A BACKPACKER caught up in an attempted coup to oust the president of Ecuador is on his way home this weekend. Journalist Roland Hughes has spent months travelling around South America, and was in Ecuador when the trouble began on Thursday. He got stranded in the country as airports and highways were shut in the capital Quito because of rebel blockades.

Soldiers rescued President Rafael Correa from a hospital where he had been surrounded by police, who also assaulted and tear-gassed him. Mr Correa and his ministers said the revolt was an attempt to overthrow him and not just a protest over a new law which would cut benefits for public servants.

At least three people, two police officers and a soldier, were killed and dozens injured, said Irina Cabezas, the vice president of congress.

Roland, from Meliden, Prestatyn, told the Daily Post he heard gunfire and saw blazing piles of tyres from the roof of his hostel. He said: “It was as though everything had stood still, and everyone was preparing for the worst.

“Shops shut and some were looted, trams had stalled on the streets, and everyone seemed to feel we were in it for the long run. As much as I had enjoyed being in Ecuador, I wasn’t really ready to spend months here.

“You sensed the tone of the protests could change at any moment, and the fact there was so much disinformation floating around made it all the more edgy.

More:
http://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/north-wales-news/2010/10/02/former-daily-post-journalist-caught-up-in-ecuador-coup-attempt-55578-27384284/