Ecuadoreans Want Apology to Venezuela
The Pachakutik indigenous movement urged the Ecuadorean government to apologize for an attempt by Congress leader Wilfredo Lucero to link Venezuela to protests in Ecuador.

Pachakutik Coordinator Gilberto Talahua denied any involvement of Caracas and President Hugo Chavez in financing indigenous mobilizations against the free trade agreement with the US.

Lucero´s remarks are "irresponsible and unfounded," stressed Talahua.

He said protests against the FTA and for the cancellation of operations of US oil firm Oxy, as well as the convening of a Constituent Assembly have been financed by local indigenous communities.

"Wilfrido Lucero´s clumsy remarks internationalize an issue of strict internal jurisdiction," said Talahua, who asked the Executive to apologize to "brother country" Venezuela.