QUITO, Ecuador (AP) -
0421ecuador Ecuador's ousted President Lucio Gutierrez was stranded inside the Brazilian Embassy residence while angry protesters shouted insults outside and Brazil held talks with the country's new government after granting him asylum.
Some 100 protesters gathered near a gate guarded by riot police Thursday night, yelling "Coward!" and "Brazil, give back the thief!"
Gutierrez's enemies say he should be tried for abuse of power, corruption and the violent repression of protests that prompted a congressional vote on Wednesday to remove him from office.
Brazilian Ambassador Sergio Florencio Sobrinho said Gutierrez was in the residence waiting for a flight to Brazil. But after a meeting with government officials Thursday night, the ambassador said Ecuador was not yet ready to grant permission for Gutierrez to leave.
Newly sworn-in President Alfredo Palacio, who was vice president under Gutierrez, installed members of a new Cabinet Thursday in an effort to bring stability to the South American country of 12.5 people. Palacio has promised to hold a referendum and constitutional assembly to create a new state structure.
The streets were largely peaceful Thursday after days of street protests that pitted Gutierrez's opponents against his supporters and police firing tear gas.
Gutierrez took office in January 2003 as a populist, anti-corruption reformer but soon angered many Ecuadoreans by adopting economic austerity measures. Many also were upset by growing accusations of nepotism and corruption in his inner circle.
He dissolved the Supreme Court a week ago in hopes of placating protesters who accused him of stacking the court in his favor. But the move set off even more protests. Scores were injured and at least two deaths were linked to the protests.
As the United States urged calm, the Organization of American States planned a session to discuss the situation Friday. The 34-member organization, which is based in Washington, has asked Ecuador's representative to explain how Congress justified dismissing Gutierrez under a constitutional clause allowing the removal of a president for "abandonment of the post" - while he was still in the Government Palace issuing orders.
Legal experts have said the measure violates the constitution. It avoids a drawn-out impeachment process and is similar to what Congress did in 1997 when it dismissed President Abdala Bucaram for "mental incapacity."
Police were searching for Bucaram, whose return from exile abroad inflamed the protests that drove Gutierrez from power. Gutierrez's opponents accused him of reorganizing the Supreme Court so that corruption charges could be dropped against Bucaram. Gutierrez served as Bucaram's military aide during his turbulent six months in office.
Acting Attorney General Cecilia Armas on Wednesday issued a "preventative" arrest order for Bucaram, who was accused of stealing some $3 million of public funds by stuffing it into burlap bags in 1997 when he left power. He fled the country and was granted political asylum in Panama soon after his ouster.
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