Ecuadorans hail leader's ouster

QUITO, Ecuador -- Fed up with politicians, Ecuadorans turned to local radio, text messages, and the Internet to whip up a street rebellion last week that helped push their president, Lucio Gutierrez, out of office.

Yesterday Gutierrez, a former army officer elected in late 2002, was waiting in Quito's Brazilian embassy residence for safe conduct to asylum in Brazil, three days after intense protests helped force him from office. Outside the embassy, demonstrators were calling for him to stay in Ecuador, and some want him arrested.

Buoyant protesters -- including businessmen, housewives, and students -- said the weeklong rallies were a spontaneous reaction to frustration with what they saw as the government's abuse of power and to disappointment with leaders of all political colors.

''We opened the microphones to the people so they could talk about what Ecuador was living at the moment," said Radio La Luna manager Ataulfo Tobar.

As protests grew, opposition lawmakers held a special session Wednesday to dismiss Gutierrez. The president fled in a helicopter after military leaders also withdrew their support for him.

Police firing tear gas clashed with opposition protesters who accused Gutierrez of authoritarian rule. At least two people were killed.

Gutierrez told supporters by telephone from the embassy residence Friday that he had been illegally ousted. The United States and regional leaders, concerned over Ecuador's democracy, are urging a constitutional solution to the crisis.

Lawmakers named vice president Alfredo Palacio to replace Gutierrez. But demonstrators say opposition parties were simply reacting to the victory of the mass movement.

''The opposition parties can't take credit for this, even if they want to," said student Ramiro Serrano.

Quito protesters began calling themselves the Forajidos, outlaws in Spanish, after Gutierrez used the word to refer to them when demonstrators rallied outside his family home. Car windshield stickers and T-shirts carrying the logo soon appeared on Quito's streets.

When momentum started to build more than a week ago, La Luna began broadcasts calling for peaceful demonstrations.

As protests grew, the Gutierrez government blocked La Luna's signal, according to Tobar.