Ecuador Conflict Deepens

The political stand-off in Ecuador between lawmakers and the government has intensified with protests turning increasingly violent. Last week the country’s electoral court, TSE, suspended the political rights of 57 lawmakers after they voted to remove the Court’s president, Jorge Acosta. Protest and confrontation between the ousted lawmakers, police and supporters from both sides have escalated. President Rafael Correa has made constitutional reform a priority since coming to power in January. Shortly after his inauguration he called for a March 18 referendum to let the general public decide whether they want to rewrite the country’s constitution.