Ex-Ecuador head attacks dismissal

Gutierrez has been granted asylum in Brazil

Ecuador's ousted President Lucio Gutierrez has said he was removed from office in an unconstitutional vote.

The taped remarks, intended for his supporters, were made over the phone from the Brazilian ambassador's residence, where he is staying.

Mr Gutierrez was removed from office after a week of escalating protests.

Meanwhile, the Organisation of American States (OAS) has decided to send a mission to Ecuador to support efforts to resolve the crisis.

The body suspended an emergency session in Washington to decide whether to dispatch the special mission which is due to look into the way Mr Gutierrez was removed from office.

The new Interior Minister, Mauricio Gandara, warned that if the OAS or anybody else tried to reinstate Mr Gutierrez, "that will spill rivers of blood in Ecuador".

Corrupt predecessors

Quito has criticised the OAS for failing to make itself heard when the disgraced president removed most Supreme Court judges in December in what was widely considered an unconstitutional move.

Foreign Minister Antonio Parra said he found it "strange" that the OAS should finally take action at the very moment Ecuador was starting to enjoy what he described as its first days of democracy, following "four months of dictatorship".

The recent crisis was sparked by escalating protests that followed the former president's attempt to dismiss 27 of 31 Supreme Court judges.

The move was aimed at granting a pardon to former presidents who had been tried for corruption.

Congress ousted the disgraced president in an unanimous vote on Wednesday after he endorsed the use of violence to put an end to street protests, in which at least one person died.

A new President, Alfredo Palacio, was sworn in.

Mr Palacio later issued an arrest warrant for the former president.

In a separate development, Ecuador's government on Friday announced it will allow Mr Gutierrez to leave for Brazil, where he has been granted asylum, but added that no time frame had been set yet.

Brazil has put an air force jet on standby, and is waiting for the go-ahead from Ecuador's government.

Populist approach

But a growing number of protesters have been taking to the streets of Quito banging pots and pans, and many have gathered outside the residence of the Brazilian ambassador, demanding Mr Gutierrez be judged by his people.

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Mr Gutierrez on his part has said in taped remarks that his ousting was illegal.

"Through an unconstitutional decision, with 62 votes and without having abandoned the post, they have taken me out of the presidency," the former president said.

His statement was broadcast by two Ecuadorian TV stations, and was apparently directed at his supporters, whom he called on to spread his message to the public.

"I think there has to be justice, respect for democracy, the constitution, and I ask you to make these declarations," he said.

But many Ecuadorians disagree, and want to see him punished for his alleged crimes.

"He has to be tried, judged and thrown into jail for what he has done - there should be no immunity," one demonstrator, Cinthia Andrade, told the Associated Press news agency.

The new president says he wants to reform the political system and has suggested convening an assembly to write a new constitution.

Mr Gutierrez came to power as a populist, anti-corruption left-winger in 2002, but lost the backing of many supporters by implementing free-market policies.