This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/americas/6262555.stm
The article has changed 5 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Ecuador swears in new president | |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| Ecuador has sworn in its newly-elected president, Rafael Correa, who has promised a "citizens' revolution". | |
| The left-wing economist's proposals include debt restructuring and less US involvement in Ecuadorean affairs. | The left-wing economist's proposals include debt restructuring and less US involvement in Ecuadorean affairs. |
| Mr Correa, 43, faces a hostile Congress and must also please an electorate which has ousted the last three elected leaders before the end of their terms. | Mr Correa, 43, faces a hostile Congress and must also please an electorate which has ousted the last three elected leaders before the end of their terms. |
| Those at his inauguration included most regional leaders, Iran's Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and Spain's crown prince. | |
| Fight ahead | Fight ahead |
| On Sunday, the country's large indigenous community accepted Mr Correa as their leader at a ceremony in the Andes mountains. | On Sunday, the country's large indigenous community accepted Mr Correa as their leader at a ceremony in the Andes mountains. |
| He was accompanied by his key regional allies: Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez and his Bolivian counterpart, Evo Morales. | He was accompanied by his key regional allies: Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez and his Bolivian counterpart, Evo Morales. |
| "I will never fail you," Mr Correa told the crowd in the town of Zumbahua. | "I will never fail you," Mr Correa told the crowd in the town of Zumbahua. |
| "Let us make a true democratic revolution, constitutional but still a revolution... radical, profound and quick changes to the current model of so much exploitation, of so much injustice," he said. | "Let us make a true democratic revolution, constitutional but still a revolution... radical, profound and quick changes to the current model of so much exploitation, of so much injustice," he said. |
| Mr Correa has said he will call a referendum on a special assembly to rewrite the constitution so that the powers of the traditional parties are curbed. | Mr Correa has said he will call a referendum on a special assembly to rewrite the constitution so that the powers of the traditional parties are curbed. |
| Congress - which is dominated by these parties and which has been described as a "sewer of corruption" by the new president - has vowed to fight these attempts. | |
| Turmoil | Turmoil |
| Mr Correa has also rejected a free trade agreement with Washington and has said he will not renew a treaty which allows the US to use an air base on the Pacific coast. | Mr Correa has also rejected a free trade agreement with Washington and has said he will not renew a treaty which allows the US to use an air base on the Pacific coast. |
| He is expected to forge closer ties with governments which are also critical of the White House, such as Venezuela and Iran. | |
| Before arriving in the Ecuadorean capital, Quito, Mr Ahmadinejad said both countries had common views and would talk about expanding ties. | Before arriving in the Ecuadorean capital, Quito, Mr Ahmadinejad said both countries had common views and would talk about expanding ties. |
| With an economy highly dependent on oil and banana exports, Ecuador has high rates of unemployment and poverty. More than 60% of its 13 million inhabitants live below the poverty line. | |
| The country has seen much political turmoil in recent years with eight presidents in the last decade. Only three presidents have succeeded in serving full terms since 1979. | The country has seen much political turmoil in recent years with eight presidents in the last decade. Only three presidents have succeeded in serving full terms since 1979. |