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| Version 3 | Version 4 |
|---|---|
| Ecuador swears in new president | Ecuador swears in new president |
| (about 7 hours later) | |
| Ecuador has sworn in its newly-elected president, Rafael Correa, who has promised a "citizens' revolution". | Ecuador has sworn in its newly-elected president, Rafael Correa, who has promised a "citizens' revolution". |
| The left-wing economist's proposals include debt restructuring and less US involvement in Ecuadorean affairs. | The left-wing economist's proposals include debt restructuring and less US involvement in Ecuadorean affairs. |
| Mr Correa vowed to repay foreign creditors only after the needs of Ecuador's poor had been met, and to rewrite the constitution. | Mr Correa vowed to repay foreign creditors only after the needs of Ecuador's poor had been met, and to rewrite the constitution. |
| Those at his inauguration included most regional leaders, Iran's Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and Spain's crown prince. | Those at his inauguration included most regional leaders, Iran's Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and Spain's crown prince. |
| Mr Correa, 43, told those gathered at his swearing-in ceremony that the established political institutions had failed his country. | Mr Correa, 43, told those gathered at his swearing-in ceremony that the established political institutions had failed his country. |
| Referendum | Referendum |
| Putting on the red, yellow and blue presidential sash, Mr Correa complained that Ecuador has ''a perverse system that has destroyed our democracy, our economy and our society". | Putting on the red, yellow and blue presidential sash, Mr Correa complained that Ecuador has ''a perverse system that has destroyed our democracy, our economy and our society". |
| Hugo Chavez, Rafael Correa and Evo Morales are close allies | Hugo Chavez, Rafael Correa and Evo Morales are close allies |
| To thunderous applause, he spoke of a citizens' revolution, a revolution that had only just begun and that would bring about profound change. | To thunderous applause, he spoke of a citizens' revolution, a revolution that had only just begun and that would bring about profound change. |
| The country has seen much political turmoil in recent years with eight presidents in the last decade. Only three presidents have succeeded in serving full terms since 1979. | The country has seen much political turmoil in recent years with eight presidents in the last decade. Only three presidents have succeeded in serving full terms since 1979. |
| After the inauguration, the new president signed a document calling for a referendum in March to set up an assembly to change the constitution so that the powers of the traditional parties are curbed. | After the inauguration, the new president signed a document calling for a referendum in March to set up an assembly to change the constitution so that the powers of the traditional parties are curbed. |
| "This is the first battle in a long war to retake our country," he said. | "This is the first battle in a long war to retake our country," he said. |
| Indigenous backing | Indigenous backing |
| The BBC's South America correspondent, Daniel Schweimler says Ecuador's new president has some influential friends, but also some powerful enemies in a divided country. | The BBC's South America correspondent, Daniel Schweimler says Ecuador's new president has some influential friends, but also some powerful enemies in a divided country. |
| He says the scene is set for a challenging first few months of Mr Correa's presidency. | He says the scene is set for a challenging first few months of Mr Correa's presidency. |
| On Sunday, the country's large indigenous community accepted Mr Correa as their leader at a ceremony in the Andes mountains. | On Sunday, the country's large indigenous community accepted Mr Correa as their leader at a ceremony in the Andes mountains. |
| He was accompanied by his key regional allies: Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez and his Bolivian counterpart, Evo Morales. | |
| "I will never fail you," Mr Correa told the crowd in the town of Zumbahua. | "I will never fail you," Mr Correa told the crowd in the town of Zumbahua. |
| Mr Correa has also rejected a free trade agreement with Washington and has said he will not renew a treaty which allows the US to use an air base on the Pacific coast. | Mr Correa has also rejected a free trade agreement with Washington and has said he will not renew a treaty which allows the US to use an air base on the Pacific coast. |