Protesters confront the police in Quito, Ecuador, on Oct. 9, 2019. (Str/Xinhua)
The politicians were charged with inciting rebellion against the government of President Lenin Moreno after anti-government protests broke out in October, sparked by a sudden hike in gasoline prices, and had been taking refuge at Mexico's embassy in Quito.
QUITO, Jan. 9 (Xinhua) -- A group of Ecuadorian opposition politicians accused of attempting to overthrow the government flew on Thursday to Mexico, where they have been offered diplomatic asylum, a top official said.
"This morning, the citizens in question took a commercial flight to Mexico City," Ecuadorian Foreign Affairs Minister Jose Valencia said, as he read from a written statement.
The politicians were charged with inciting rebellion against the government of President Lenin Moreno after anti-government protests broke out in October, sparked by a sudden hike in gasoline prices, and had been taking refuge at Mexico's embassy in Quito.
Their departure had been coordinated by the two countries, with Ecuador's government requesting Mexico's embassy "to provide the necessary measures so these citizens could leave Ecuador," said Valencia.
The politicians include three legislators and supporters of ex-president Rafael Correa.
Moreno, who was Correa's vice president and a member of his center-left PAIS Alliance party, succeeded him as president, but eventually broke with his progressive policies. ■
