Ousted President Lucio Gutierrez remained holed up in the Brazilian ambassador's residence for a fourth day Saturday while Brazil reportedly threatened to withdraw its ambassador after his car was mobbed by nearly 200 protesters who prevented him from leaving the walled compound. The incident Friday night added to growing tensions between the two countries since Brazil granted asylum to Gutierrez, who was awaiting Ecuador's permission to leave the country. Ecuador's new government has been dragging its feet on granting the permission, apparently fearing the reaction of Ecuadoreans outraged that Gutierrez will not be tried for alleged abuse of power, corruption and repression of peaceful protests. The Brazilian newspaper Folha de Sao Paulo reported Saturday that high-ranking Brazilian Foreign Ministry official Samuel Pinheiro had a "tough" conversation with his Ecuadorean counterpart. The paper said he protested that the ambassador was "trapped" inside the residence and denied "the conditions to work," a situation that could lead Brazil to withdraw him. The paper reported that in one incident a Brazilian diplomat had been struck on the back by protesters when he left the residence. More than 200 protesters blowing whistles and waving flags blocked the gates of the ambassador's residence Friday night, demanding Gutierrez remain in Ecuador to face trial.
