Police were refusing to obey orders in a large part of Ecuador Thursday, leading to uncertainty and generally disrupting life on the streets. Police were protesting a law passed Tuesday by the National Assembly, which eliminates police decorations and bonuses, dpa reported. Around 1,000 police officers refused to obey orders beginning at 7 am (1200 GMT) and took control of the Quito Regiment, the largest in the Ecuadorian capital. Ecuadorian President Rafael Correa visited the regiment but failed to talk to the rebellious officers. He left with the warning that he will not take "a single step back." The mutiny spread quickly to the rest of Ecuador. Several roads were blocked, and airports needed to be closed.
