Lucio Gutierrez, the recently deposed ruler of Ecuador has been given asylum in Brazil. Gutierrez was removed from office by Ecuador's Congress after street protests demanded his ouster. The primary reasons according to the demonstrators were his abuse of power and misrule.

Brazilian Ambassador Sergio Florencia announced that the Brazilian government had granted Gutierrez asylum Wednesday in an interview on Radio Caracol of Colombia. 'President Gutierrez is in the residence of the Brazilian Embassy,' Florencia said. 'We are taking the necessary steps with the Ecuadorian Foreign Ministry to finalize procedures to obtain his safe conduct and his transfer to Brazil.'

No exact date was given for the transfer of Gutierrez to Brazil but Florencia said he hoped it would be done 'soon.'