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| Ecuador referendum row escalates | Ecuador referendum row escalates |
| (19 minutes later) | |
| Political tension is rising in Ecuador over a referendum on the drafting of a new constitution, planned for 15 April. | Political tension is rising in Ecuador over a referendum on the drafting of a new constitution, planned for 15 April. |
| The opposition-controlled Congress has announced plans to impeach some members of the electoral tribunal for their decision to vote in favour of the poll. | |
| The move comes a day after Congress voted to remove the president of the tribunal, Jorge Acosta, from office. | |
| Left-wing President Rafael Correa, who was elected in November, is seeking a referendum to restructure Congress. | Left-wing President Rafael Correa, who was elected in November, is seeking a referendum to restructure Congress. |
| The referendum would decide whether to form a national assembly that would then consider reforms. | The referendum would decide whether to form a national assembly that would then consider reforms. |
| If Mr Correa has his way, ties with the IMF and the World Bank could be cut and the country's foreign debt restructured. Its oil wealth, he has said, will go back to the people. | If Mr Correa has his way, ties with the IMF and the World Bank could be cut and the country's foreign debt restructured. Its oil wealth, he has said, will go back to the people. |
| Opinion polls suggest about 70% of Ecuadorians are in favour of an assembly. | Opinion polls suggest about 70% of Ecuadorians are in favour of an assembly. |
| Opposition figures say that Mr Correa is using the referendum to bypass legislature and consolidate his presidential authority. | Opposition figures say that Mr Correa is using the referendum to bypass legislature and consolidate his presidential authority. |
| 'Tit-for-tat' | 'Tit-for-tat' |
| On Tuesday, 52 lawmakers in the 100-strong Congress voted to fire Mr Acosta for his decision to approve the referendum and replace him with Alejandro Cepeda. | |
| In a BBC interview, Mr Acosta said he had no intention of leaving his post and had, in turn, ordered the removal from office of the 52 deputies who voted against him. | In a BBC interview, Mr Acosta said he had no intention of leaving his post and had, in turn, ordered the removal from office of the 52 deputies who voted against him. |
| Ecuador's government has said it will back the move, adding the electoral laws can be applied to any public official who interferes with an electoral process. | |
| But its legality remains unclear. | But its legality remains unclear. |
| "The tribunal has no power to remove elected officials from office," said Alfonso Harb, an opposition lawmaker and one of those being sanctioned. "This ruling is completely invalid." | "The tribunal has no power to remove elected officials from office," said Alfonso Harb, an opposition lawmaker and one of those being sanctioned. "This ruling is completely invalid." |
| In an apparent tit-for-tat, Congress now plans to impeach Mr Acosta and three other justices. | In an apparent tit-for-tat, Congress now plans to impeach Mr Acosta and three other justices. |
| A BBC correspondent in Ecuador says there is concern that the situation could continue to deteriorate in the coming days. | A BBC correspondent in Ecuador says there is concern that the situation could continue to deteriorate in the coming days. |