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Ecuador probes President Correa 'link' to Farc rebels | Ecuador probes President Correa 'link' to Farc rebels |
(about 1 hour 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 research on ties between the rebels and neighbouring Venezuela and Colombia.. | "My hands are clean," he said after the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) published 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. | 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. | 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. | 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, counting is nearly complete after a referendum held on 7 May on a range of issues, including Mr Correa's proposals for judicial and media reform. | |
Results show that voters have backed proposals to overhaul the judiciary by 46% to 42.5%, while plans to set up a body to regulate media content have been approved by 45% to 42%. | |
The margin of victory is much narrower than first announced. | |
The referndum 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. |