MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Released former Ecuadorian president vows return

Former Ecuadorian president Lucio Gutierrez was released last week from prison in Quito where he had been held since last October on charges of endangering national security.

The judge dismissed the charges based on Mr. Gutierrez refusal to acknowledge the legitimacy of his successor Alfredo Palacio.

On release Mr. Gutierrez thanked the Ecuadorian people, called for unity and anticipated he would win elections next October.

"I call upon the unity of all Ecuadorians", he said, "I thank God for letting Justice be carried out in this country".

In his party's headquarters, Sociedad Patriotica, which proclaimed him candidacy for the October presidential ballot Gutierrez said "we will immediately begin our campaign to return hopes and dreams to fellow Ecuadorians".

Mr. Gutierrez had been in jail since last October 14 after having been ousted by Congress April 20, following massive rioting and violence in the streets of the country's main cities particularly in the capital Quito.

However Mr. Gutierrez needs authorization from the Electoral Board to run and a District Attorney has anticipated he would appeal the release ruling arguing that there are "other elements that must be taken into account".

When Mr Gutierrez left for exile in Brazil he was replaced by vice president Alfredo Palacio. From Brazil, former president Gutierrez moved to United States, Peru and Colombia from where he returned to Ecuador in spite of an arrest warrant.

Ecuador has undergone much political and social unrest since recovering democracy a quarter of a century ago. In the last decade the country has had seven presidents, several of which ousted by Congress and/or social upheaval.