QUITO, Ecuador (AP) — Mexico is breaking off diplomatic ties with Ecuador after police broke into the Mexican embassy in Quito to arrest a former Ecuadorian vice chairman who has sought political asylum there after being indicted on corruption.
Mexico’s President Andrés Manuel López Obrador made the announcement Friday night after Ecuadorian police pressured their means into the Mexican embassy to arrest Jorge Glas who has been residing there since December, as a diplomatic rift between the 2 nations deepened
Glas, arguably essentially the most needed man within the nation, was convicted on bribery and corruption expenses. Ecuadorian authorities are nonetheless investigating extra allegations in opposition to him.
Police broke into the exterior doorways of the Mexican diplomatic headquarters within the Ecuadorian capital and entered the primary patio to get Glas.
“This isn’t potential, it can’t be, that is loopy,” mentioned Roberto Canseco, head of the Mexican consular part within the capital, Quito, instructed native press whereas standing outdoors the embassy. “I’m very nervous as a result of they might kill him. There isn’t any foundation to do that, that is completely outdoors the norm.”
Defending its choice, Ecuador’s presidency mentioned in an announcement: “Ecuador is a sovereign nation and we’re not going to permit any felony to remain free.”
López Obrador fired again calling Glas’ detention an “authoritarian act” and “a flagrant violation of worldwide legislation and the sovereignty of Mexico.”
Alicia Bárcena, Mexico’s secretary of overseas relations, posted on X, previously Twitter, that plenty of diplomats suffered accidents in the course of the break-in, including that it violated the Vienna Conference on Diplomatic Relations.
Bárcena mentioned that Mexico would take the case to the Worldwide Courtroom of Justice “to denounce Ecuador’s duty for violations of worldwide legislation.” She additionally mentioned Mexican diplomats have been solely ready for the Ecuadorian authorities to supply the required ensures for his or her return dwelling.
Ecuador’s overseas ministry and Ecuador’s ministry of the inside didn’t instantly reply to a request for remark.
The Mexican embassy in Quito remained below heavy police guard late Friday.
A day earlier, tensions between the 2 nations escalated after Mexico’s president made statements that Ecuador thought-about “very unlucky” concerning the final elections wherein the Ecuadorian president Daniel Noboa gained.
In response, the Ecuadorian authorities declared the Mexican ambassador persona non grata.
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Comply with AP’s protection of Latin America and the Caribbean at https://apnews.com/hub/latin-america
