Ex-president expected to return to Ecuador
Former Ecuadorian President Lucio Gutierrez, who sought asylum in Brazil, will return to his country soon, said his former collaborator Major Fidel Araujo.

"I have talked to (ex-) President Gutierrez, and he considers he is to return in due time," Araujo told a local television channel Thursday.

"Just as he is in the mind of his rivals, the (ex-) President is in the mind of the poor," said Araujo.

The ex-collaborator questioned the role of the armed forces during the fall of the former leader on April 20, while attributing Gutierrez's step-down to what he termed a lack of maturity among politicians.

"Mr. Gutierrez was the product of the need of the people to seek a true change in the political class. The way of doing politics in the country seeks force to solve problems," said the officer.

In his last day as president, Gutierrez continued with his work agenda and respected demonstrations against him, said Araujo.

Gutierrez was removed from office by the country's congress on April 20 for "dereliction of duty" amid violent protests in the capital, which left two people dead.