Rafael Correa returned to power under military protection, after revolt

Ecuador’s socialist president, Rafael Correa, returned Thursday night to presidential palace, after a military operation that allowed him to leave the hospital from Quito where several policemen were holding him.

The president, addressed himself to a crowd of partisans came in front of the palace, and announced first the death of a person during the operation, but later he said there were ’5 injured and no one dead’.

Rafael Correa, who announced ‘a state strike’ orchestrated by the opposition and some law forces, thanked his partisans for their support.

He left the hospital under the army protection and a elite unit of Ecuadorian Police, an operation marked by gunshots between the policemen that were keeping him hostage and the army.

“We got him out, we got him out,” Interior Vice Minister Edwin Jarrin who accompanied the president after he was out of the hospital.

The president had another try to get out of the building, but had to give up for about 15 minutes because of the clashes from the area.

This was “one of the saddest days of my life”, told the president who took the power in 2007.

“History will judge them. But from now on we look forward with more enthusiasm and hope”, he added.

Thursday morning, tens of police officers occupied the main barrack from Quito, while more soldiers were occupying the runway of the international airport, in order to protest against a law that reduce some bonuses for law forces.