This Issue:

Table of Contents

Cover Story

Cover Story - Spanish Version

Mini-Lesson

Comprehension Quiz

Teacher's Guide and Worksheets

Unrest and Change in Ecuador

Last Wednesday, lawmakers in Ecuador voted to remove President Lucio Gutiérrez from power. In a 60 to 0 decision, a special session of Ecuador's congress ousted the president on the grounds that he had violated the constitution.

Gutiérrez 's removal followed a week of violent protests. In Quito, Ecuador's capital, and Guayaquil, the country's largest city, tens of thousands of demonstrators accused the leader of abusing his power and trying to control the court system. Since becoming president in 2003, Gutiérrez has had the supreme court dismissed twice, most recently on April 15. Protesters yelled, "Get out, Lucio," in Spanish and clashed with security forces.

With Gutiérrez out of office, his vice president, Alfredo Palacio, was sworn in as the new president. Palacio, who has the support of Ecuador's powerful military, promised to hold a vote and constitutional assembly to create a new structure for the government. "We will restore a republic with a government of the people," he declared.

By Thursday, Palacio had announced five new cabinet ministers. Brazil had granted Gutiérrez asylum. Plans were being made to fly the former president from Quito, where he had taken refuge in the Brazilian embassy, to that country.

Next: News Maker: Lance Armstrong