Ecuador changes military, police leaders
Newly-installed Ecuadorian President Alfredo Palacio sacked leaders of the armed forces and the police on Friday, just two days after he was sworn in.

The Defense Ministry said Vice Admiral Manuel Zapatero was appointed the new joint chief of staff, in replacement of Victor Rosero, who showed hesitation in dealing with street demonstrations by the opposition which led to the ouster of former President Lucio Gutierrez on Wednesday.

Palacio also appointed general Cesar Ubillus as the new Army commander, brigadier general Edmundo Baquero the Air Force commander, and rear admiral Hector Holguin the Navy commander.

Marco Cubero, commander of the National Police, was replaced by general Jose Vinueza.

In Washington, Blasco Pelaherrera, Palacio's representative to the Organization of American States (OAS), said the new government will "grant a safe conduct for Lucio Gutierrez to leave in the coming hours."

During an OAS extraordinary session, Pelaherrera briefed participants about the events which triggered the political crisis in the country.

The Permanent Council of the OAS held the meeting on the sacking of Gutierrez. It is considering sending a mission to Ecuador to study the situation.

Ecuador's air force command said a military plane departed Thursday from Brasilia to pick up Gutierrez and his family, who are under protection in the Brazilian Embassy, to Brazil. But the aircraft had yet to get permission to land.

Gutierrez is at the embassy along with his wife and two daughters after the Congress decided Wednesday to sack him and appoint Palacio as his replacement.

Also on Friday, Palacio said human rights were respected in his country. In a meeting with representatives of human rights organizations, he said there was a need to reach agreements on procedures guaranteeing the real enforcement of human rights in Ecuador.

Therefore, the president said, the Interior Ministry and relevant departments including the Attorney General's office will set up a coordination mechanism.

Earlier in the day, the Embassy of the United States in Quito was evacuated on security grounds and only indispensable personnel were inside, said diplomatic sources.

The sources said the evacuation was ordered in the face of a possible street demonstration against the US government.