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US grants asylum to Ecuadorean journalist US grants asylum to Ecuadorean journalist
(35 minutes later)
A newspaper columnist who fled Ecuador after he was sentenced to jail and ordered to pay millions of dollars in a libel case pushed by President Rafael Correa has been granted asylum in the US, his lawyer said.A newspaper columnist who fled Ecuador after he was sentenced to jail and ordered to pay millions of dollars in a libel case pushed by President Rafael Correa has been granted asylum in the US, his lawyer said.
Emilio Palacio, a columnist at el Universo, one of Ecuador's leading newspapers, has been living in Miami since last year. He applied for asylum, claiming he was a victim of political persecution. "It's been a long road for him and his family," said Palacio's lawyer, Sandra Grossman.Emilio Palacio, a columnist at el Universo, one of Ecuador's leading newspapers, has been living in Miami since last year. He applied for asylum, claiming he was a victim of political persecution. "It's been a long road for him and his family," said Palacio's lawyer, Sandra Grossman.
Last year, a court in Ecuador sentenced Palacio and three owners of el Universo to prison and ordered them to pay $40m (£25m) in damages, a sum that stunned global media watchdogs.Last year, a court in Ecuador sentenced Palacio and three owners of el Universo to prison and ordered them to pay $40m (£25m) in damages, a sum that stunned global media watchdogs.
In February, Correa threw out the sentences, saying in a televised speech he had decided to "pardon the accused and grant them remission of the sentences that they rightly received".In February, Correa threw out the sentences, saying in a televised speech he had decided to "pardon the accused and grant them remission of the sentences that they rightly received".
In its case against Palacio, the government cited a 2011 opinion piece he wrote entitled No to Lies which referred to Correa as "the Dictator" and criticised his actions during a bloody police revolt a year earlier.In its case against Palacio, the government cited a 2011 opinion piece he wrote entitled No to Lies which referred to Correa as "the Dictator" and criticised his actions during a bloody police revolt a year earlier.
News that Palacio has been granted asylum comes amid diplomatic tensions between Ecuador and Britain over the fate of the WikiLeaks' founder, Julian Assange.News that Palacio has been granted asylum comes amid diplomatic tensions between Ecuador and Britain over the fate of the WikiLeaks' founder, Julian Assange.
The Correa government granted the 41-year-old Australian asylum earlier this month on the grounds he might be a victim of political persecution. The Correa government granted the 41-year-old Australian asylum this month on the grounds he might be a victim of political persecution.
Assange has been holed up in the Ecuadorean embassy in London for more than two months in a bid to avoid extradition to Sweden, where he is wanted for questioning over sexual assault and rape allegations. Assange has been holed up in the Ecuadorean embassy in London for more than two months to avoid extradition to Sweden, where he is wanted for questioning over sexual assault and rape allegations.
Correa shares Assange's fears that from Sweden Assange could be further extradited to the US, where he could face charges stemming from WikiLeaks's publication of thousands of US diplomatic cables that laid bare Washington's powerbroking across the globe.Correa shares Assange's fears that from Sweden Assange could be further extradited to the US, where he could face charges stemming from WikiLeaks's publication of thousands of US diplomatic cables that laid bare Washington's powerbroking across the globe.
Upon granting asylum to Assange, the Ecuadorean government argued that legal evidence showed he would not get a fair trial if eventually transferred to the US.Upon granting asylum to Assange, the Ecuadorean government argued that legal evidence showed he would not get a fair trial if eventually transferred to the US.
State-run media have for weeks run stories portraying Assange as a champion of media freedom.State-run media have for weeks run stories portraying Assange as a champion of media freedom.
However, tensions have steadily mounted between Correa, a leftist who took office in 2007, and many of Ecuador's leading privately owned media. He faces accusations from some press freedom watchdogs that he uses the courts to muzzle the media, a charge he denies.However, tensions have steadily mounted between Correa, a leftist who took office in 2007, and many of Ecuador's leading privately owned media. He faces accusations from some press freedom watchdogs that he uses the courts to muzzle the media, a charge he denies.
Correa argues that many media outlets in Ecuador are controlled by a handful of families who have ties with opposition politicians and are bent on undermining support for his government.Correa argues that many media outlets in Ecuador are controlled by a handful of families who have ties with opposition politicians and are bent on undermining support for his government.