Weekly Report - 5 August 2003

Former President Gustavo Noboa has sought (and been granted) political asylum in the Dominican Republic, to avoid prosecution on a charge of irregularities with government bonds during his tenure of office - which he claims is a politically motivated vendetta hatched by another former President, León Febres Cordero (1984-88).  

The government of President Lucio Gutiérrez has said it will not oppose Noboa's departure - indeed, that he doesn't even need a safeconduct to leave Ecuador (Noboa is taking no chances). Formal charges have not yet been filed against Noboa; the investigation is only just getting under way.