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Ecuador probes President Correa 'link' to Farc rebels | Ecuador probes President Correa 'link' to Farc rebels |
(40 minutes later) | |
Prosecutors in Ecuador have said allegations that President Rafael Correa's election campaign accepted funds from Colombian rebels in 2006 will be investigated. | Prosecutors in Ecuador have said allegations that President Rafael Correa's election campaign accepted funds from Colombian rebels in 2006 will be investigated. |
A London think tank said last week that there were links between between the Farc rebels and Mr Correa. | A London think tank said last week that there were links between between the Farc rebels and Mr Correa. |
Their report was based on documents from the laptop of a Farc commander killed by Colombian troops in 2008. | Their report was based on documents from the laptop of a Farc commander killed by Colombian troops in 2008. |
Mr Correa denies having had any dealings with the left-wing rebels. | Mr Correa denies having had any dealings with the left-wing rebels. |
He said the allegations, which surfaced several years ago, were a "hoax". | He said the allegations, which surfaced several years ago, were a "hoax". |
"My hands are clean," he said after the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) published href="http://www.iiss.org/publications/strategic-dossiers/the-farc-files-venezuela-ecuador-and-the-secret-archive-of-ral-reyes/summary/" >research on ties between the rebels and neighbouring Venezuela and Colombia.. | |
"I'll take a lie detector test to prove I never received funds from the Farc," he added. | "I'll take a lie detector test to prove I never received funds from the Farc," he added. |
'Awareness of negotiations' | 'Awareness of negotiations' |
The IISS report is based on a two-year study of e-mails and documents recovered during a raid by Colombian forces on a Farc camp in Ecuador in March 2008 and testimony provided by a former rebel who later defected. | The IISS report is based on a two-year study of e-mails and documents recovered during a raid by Colombian forces on a Farc camp in Ecuador in March 2008 and testimony provided by a former rebel who later defected. |
A laptop used by Farc commander Raul Reyes, who was killed in the raid, was discovered. | |
The IISS said the rebels recounted being approached by Mr Correa's campaign team before the 2006 elections which saw Mr Correa elected to his first term as president. | |
He was re-elected in 2009. | |
Contact was made first with an intermediary, then by telephone and in person with Ricardo Patino (currently Ecuador's finance minister). | Contact was made first with an intermediary, then by telephone and in person with Ricardo Patino (currently Ecuador's finance minister). |
Finally there was contact between the Farc and Mr Correa himself "in a series of three telephone conversations in which Correa clearly showed an awareness of ongoing negotiations between his subordinates and Farc", the IISS report said. | Finally there was contact between the Farc and Mr Correa himself "in a series of three telephone conversations in which Correa clearly showed an awareness of ongoing negotiations between his subordinates and Farc", the IISS report said. |
Both Ricardo Patino and President Correa have vehemently denied they have ever had dealings with the Farc. | Both Ricardo Patino and President Correa have vehemently denied they have ever had dealings with the Farc. |
Meanwhile, preliminary results from a referendum held on 7 May indicate support for Mr Correa's proposed changes to the judiciary and media law have lessened from earlier counts. | Meanwhile, preliminary results from a referendum held on 7 May indicate support for Mr Correa's proposed changes to the judiciary and media law have lessened from earlier counts. |
With more than 90% of the votes counted, a measure to regulate the media was approved by 44.7% of voters against 42.3% against, the National Electoral Council (CNE) said. | With more than 90% of the votes counted, a measure to regulate the media was approved by 44.7% of voters against 42.3% against, the National Electoral Council (CNE) said. |
A proposal to overhaul the judiciary was ahead with 45.9% of the vote, with 42.8% against, the CNE said. | A proposal to overhaul the judiciary was ahead with 45.9% of the vote, with 42.8% against, the CNE said. |
The vote has been seen as a popularity test for Mr Correa ahead of the 2013 elections, in which he is expected to run for a third term as president. | The vote has been seen as a popularity test for Mr Correa ahead of the 2013 elections, in which he is expected to run for a third term as president. |