Ecuadorian President
Says U.S. Should Stop
Accusations
Ecuadorian President
Rafael Correa Friday
told his U.S.
counterpart George W.
Bush to "shut up," in
response to U.S.
criticism that Ecuador
harbors rebels of the
Revolutionary Armed
Forces of Colombia (FARC).
In a declaration
published by the
presidency, Correa also
challenged Bush to send
troops to the
Colombian-Ecuadorian
border.
"Bring your soldiers
Bush, let your soldiers
die at the southern
border with Colombia.
Let's see if U.S.
citizens will accept
such an outrage.
Otherwise, shut up and
try to understand what's
happening in Latin
America," Correa added.
Correa made the remarks
following implied
criticism of Ecuador by
U.S. Secretary of State
Condoleezza Rice, who
said Thursday during a
visit to Brazil that
"responsible states"
should not let their
territory be used by
"terrorists.
Ecuador severed
diplomatic ties with
Colombia after Colombian
troops entered its
territory on March 1 to
attack a camp of the
FARC, calling the raid a
violation of its
territorial sovereignty.
In their responses,
Venezuela expelled
Colombian diplomats and
Nicaragua severed
diplomatic ties with
Colombia. Both Ecuador
and Venezuela had also
deployed troops at their
respective borders with
Colombia at the height
of the crisis.
On March 7, Ecuador,
Venezuela, Nicaragua and
Colombia agreed to
declare the border
crisis over at the 20th
Rio Group Summit held in
the Dominican Republic.
Venezuela has since
reestablished diplomatic
ties with Colombia. On
Tuesday, Ecuador's
Deputy Minister of
Foreign Affairs Diego
Stacey said Ecuador will
restore diplomatic
relations with Colombia
next Monday.
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