Ecuador's Congress okays Noboa as new president

QUITO, Jan 23: Ecuador's Congress approved Gustavo Noboa as the country's new president in an emergency session Saturday following a bloodless military coup that removed elected president Jamil Mahuad from office, reports AFP.

With cries of "long live democracy!" the congress approved Noboa, who was Mahuad's vice president, as the country's new leader by 87 votes in favour, two against, and one abstention. Thirty-four legislators were absent for the vote.

The president of congress, Juan Jose Pons, said the legislature "would fight to the end so that we can maintain a democratic system in Ecuador."

The vote grants Noboa's regime the legitimacy needed to avoid global isolation: the United States, the European Union and virtually every Latin American nation had condemned any attempt at imposing a government by non-constitutional means.

"The United States is watching closely the efforts being made by the leaders of Ecuador to return their country to the framework of constitutional order," US State Department spokesman James Foley said in a statement.

"The United States calls on all parties to continue to work together to address the severe economic and social challenges, which played a central role in bringing about the current crisis and that Ecuador will continue to face," Foley said.

Noboa took control of Ecuador's government early Saturday, after a three-man military junta that deposed Mahuad handed power over to him. He will remain in office until January 2003, completing Mahuad's term.

Noboa accepted office around 7:30 a.m. (6:30 pm BST) Saturday.

To ease the transition Mendoza announced that he was retiring as head of the armed forces, and would join the army reserves.

An angry Vargas, however, said that the CONAIE would not recognize Noboa as president. Mendoza had "betrayed" the Indians by dissolving the junta, Vargas told AFP.

However, the massive Indian protest was over, and all day Saturday buses loaded with CONAIE members made the long trip from Quito to the small villages where most of their members live.