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Ecuadorean police ring Congress Ecuador ends Congress stalemate
(about 7 hours later)
Hundreds of police officers have surrounded the Ecuadorean Congress to prevent 57 sacked legislators from entering the building in Quito. Ecuador's Congress has held a session after 21 substitute members were sworn in to replace 57 sacked legislators.
The politicians were fired for trying to block a referendum on constitutional reform proposed by President Rafael Correa and now set for 15 April. They were unseated for trying to block a referendum on constitutional changes that President Rafael Correa wants.
Last week saw violent scuffles as the lawmakers tried to force their way in. The substitutes mean Congress now has a quorum and can meet - a small victory for the president, say correspondents.
The dispute is threatening to provoke more turmoil in a country that has had eight presidents in the past 10 years. More than 1,000 police officers surrounded the Congress building in Quito to prevent the sacked legislators from trying to disrupt the session.
More than 1,000 police officers formed a cordon around the Congress building in the capital, Quito, from early on Tuesday. The BBC's South America correspondent, Daniel Schweimler, says the 21 substitute congressmen and women were smuggled into the building at dawn.
Some of the sacked lawmakers, who represent more than half of the 100-member Congress, threatened to try to break through the police ranks.
Others said they might try to hold a parallel meeting elsewhere in the capital, Reuters news agency reported.
Power strugglePower struggle
Congress needs to have at least 51 members present to have a quorum. Some of the 57 sacked legislators had promised to force their way in to claim their seats.
Rafael Correa enjoys widespread popular support They were unseated by an electoral tribunal on 7 March for trying to block a referendum on constitutional reform proposed by President Correa and now set for 15 April.
Ecuadorean media reports said a number of substitutes for the fired legislators had entered Congress early in the day to enable the session to proceed. Rafael Correa enjoys widespread popular supportThe Congress had been in recess for two weeks as a resolution was sought to the stalemate.
President Correa, a leftist who enjoys little congressional support, has argued that Congress is corrupt and the cause of many of the country's problems. Mr Correa has been embroiled in a bitter conflict with the opposition Congress since he took power in January.
A government spokesman said that Mr Correa "hopes that Congress will start working in line with people's demands".
The president is a leftist who enjoys little congressional support. He has argued that Congress is corrupt and the cause of many of the country's problems.
He wants the people to have a greater say and is organising a referendum next month as the first step in setting up a series of assemblies that would by-pass the power of the Congress.He wants the people to have a greater say and is organising a referendum next month as the first step in setting up a series of assemblies that would by-pass the power of the Congress.
The established politicians, not surprisingly, do not want to relinquish power and are fighting back, says the BBC's South America correspondent, Daniel Schweimler. The established politicians, not surprisingly, do not want to relinquish power and are fighting back, says our correspondent.
Mr Correa, who came to power two months ago promising radical changes, enjoys the support of about 70% of the people of Ecuador, but most of the power and influence lies in the hands of his opponents, our correspondent says. The dispute is threatening to provoke more turmoil in a country that has had eight presidents in the past 10 years.
Congress needs to have at least 51 members present to have a quorum.
With the 21 substitutes, 55 were present at Tuesday's session.
Mr Correa came to power two months ago promising radical changes. He enjoys the support of about 70% of the people of Ecuador but most of the power and influence lies in the hands of his opponents, our correspondent says.