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| Interpol issue alert for Ecuador ex-President Mahuad | Interpol issue alert for Ecuador ex-President Mahuad |
| (about 9 hours later) | |
| Interpol has issued an international alert for the former President of Ecuador, Jamil Mahuad. | |
| Mr Mahuad, a lecturer at Harvard University, is wanted in Ecuador over allegations of embezzlement during his time in office in the 1990s. | Mr Mahuad, a lecturer at Harvard University, is wanted in Ecuador over allegations of embezzlement during his time in office in the 1990s. |
| The former president, who denies the charges, fled Ecuador after a coup in 2000 and moved to the United States. | The former president, who denies the charges, fled Ecuador after a coup in 2000 and moved to the United States. |
| During a 1999 banking crisis, Mr Mahuad froze bank accounts and replaced the Ecuadorean currency with the dollar. | |
| The government blamed the former president for the events – which saw more than 20 banks shut down – and started a lawsuit against him in 2000. | The government blamed the former president for the events – which saw more than 20 banks shut down – and started a lawsuit against him in 2000. |
| In 2011, Interpol rejected Ecuador's first request to issue an international warrant against Mr Mahuad, arguing it was a "political case". | In 2011, Interpol rejected Ecuador's first request to issue an international warrant against Mr Mahuad, arguing it was a "political case". |
| 'No political persecution' | 'No political persecution' |
| But on Tuesday the Ecuadorean Interior Minister, Jose Serrano, welcomed the inclusion of the former president's name on Interpol's wanted list. | |
| It means Mr Mahuad may now be detained and extradited to Ecuador to face charges which could see him jailed for between eight and 12 years. | It means Mr Mahuad may now be detained and extradited to Ecuador to face charges which could see him jailed for between eight and 12 years. |
| "There's no political persecution here. What Ecuadorean justice seeks is the punishment of common criminal acts," Mr Serrano told reporters in the capital, Quito. | |
| Mr Mahuad took office in January 1998, as Ecuador was dangerously close to war with neighbouring Peru over border disputes. | Mr Mahuad took office in January 1998, as Ecuador was dangerously close to war with neighbouring Peru over border disputes. |
| But months later he signed a peace deal with his Peruvian counterpart, Alberto Fujimori. | But months later he signed a peace deal with his Peruvian counterpart, Alberto Fujimori. |
| The decision led to both being nominated for the Nobel peace prize. | The decision led to both being nominated for the Nobel peace prize. |
| Mr Mahuad was ousted by a military coup backed by indigenous protesters in January 2000. | Mr Mahuad was ousted by a military coup backed by indigenous protesters in January 2000. |
| He was replaced by his vice-president, Gustavo Noboa. | He was replaced by his vice-president, Gustavo Noboa. |