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| Ecuador ready for key referendum | Ecuador ready for key referendum |
| (29 minutes later) | |
| Voters in Ecuador are preparing to decide whether to set up a national assembly to study a new constitution. | Voters in Ecuador are preparing to decide whether to set up a national assembly to study a new constitution. |
| President Rafael Correa says he wants a "yes" from Sunday's referendum to challenge the traditional political system and tackle corruption. | President Rafael Correa says he wants a "yes" from Sunday's referendum to challenge the traditional political system and tackle corruption. |
| His critics say he is becoming increasingly authoritarian and following in the footsteps of Venezuela's President Hugo Chavez. | His critics say he is becoming increasingly authoritarian and following in the footsteps of Venezuela's President Hugo Chavez. |
| Recent opinion polls have suggested the president will win the argument. | Recent opinion polls have suggested the president will win the argument. |
| BBC Americas editor Will Grant says it seems people are so angry and disillusioned with what they perceive as a corrupt Congress, that the motion will be passed with a clear majority. | |
| About 9.2m people are eligible to vote. Polls open at 1200 GMT and close at 2200. | |
| 'Well prepared' | 'Well prepared' |
| The debate has turned personal with critics of the president making accusations of drug running in his family. | The debate has turned personal with critics of the president making accusations of drug running in his family. |
| Mr Correa admitted his father was arrested for carrying drugs into the US 40 years ago. | Mr Correa admitted his father was arrested for carrying drugs into the US 40 years ago. |
| The referendum has caused a political crisis in the country | The referendum has caused a political crisis in the country |
| But he said: "I lived through this and these people are not delinquents. They are single mothers or unemployed people who are desperate to feed their families." | But he said: "I lived through this and these people are not delinquents. They are single mothers or unemployed people who are desperate to feed their families." |
| Many of his critics have accused him of trying to increase his power. | Many of his critics have accused him of trying to increase his power. |
| Former president Oswaldo Hurtado said of the referendum: "It's not a project for a better democracy. It's a project to accumulate power. All dictators always have had constitutions made to fit them." | Former president Oswaldo Hurtado said of the referendum: "It's not a project for a better democracy. It's a project to accumulate power. All dictators always have had constitutions made to fit them." |
| Mr Correa has not spelt out exactly what he wants from a new constitution but has indicated that Congress, controlled by traditional political parties, should not appoint judges and electoral officials. | Mr Correa has not spelt out exactly what he wants from a new constitution but has indicated that Congress, controlled by traditional political parties, should not appoint judges and electoral officials. |
| The assembly would be elected within three months and have six months to draft the constitution. The document would then be put to a second referendum. | The assembly would be elected within three months and have six months to draft the constitution. The document would then be put to a second referendum. |
| "It will be a constitution that depoliticises the courts and control authorities, decentralises the state," Mr Correa said, adding he would quit and "go home" if there was a "no" vote. | "It will be a constitution that depoliticises the courts and control authorities, decentralises the state," Mr Correa said, adding he would quit and "go home" if there was a "no" vote. |
| The BBC's Daniel Schweimler in Quito says President Correa is taking a bold gamble in a country that has seen eight presidents in the past ten years. | |
| But our correspondent says the political system in Ecuador is fragile and the president believes only radical measures will win back the people's faith in their politicians. | |
| Lawmakers sacked | |
| International monitors say the referendum has been well prepared. | International monitors say the referendum has been well prepared. |
| The head of the observer mission from the Organisation of American States, Enrique Correa, said: "From the technical point of view... the vote should not run into any problems." | The head of the observer mission from the Organisation of American States, Enrique Correa, said: "From the technical point of view... the vote should not run into any problems." |
| The referendum sparked a political crisis in the country. | The referendum sparked a political crisis in the country. |
| An electoral court sacked 57 lawmakers in March for trying to block it. | An electoral court sacked 57 lawmakers in March for trying to block it. |
| When the dismissals were ruled illegal, police prevented the legislators returning to their offices and the MPs were kicked and punched by Correa supporters. | When the dismissals were ruled illegal, police prevented the legislators returning to their offices and the MPs were kicked and punched by Correa supporters. |