QUITO - Ecuador's Congress early today voted to remove President Abdala Bucaram from office, but the head of state immediately said he would not obey the measure. Mr Bucaram described the motion, passed by a 44-33 vote, as "a virtual coup d'etat."
The parliamentary vote came amid massive protests against economic austerity measures in this impoverished country. The motion named the Congress leader, Mr Fabian Alarcon, as interim president. Mr Alarcon, a 50-year old lawyer who heads the populist Alfarista party, would hold the presidency for a period of one year after which elections would be held.
Two people were injured by gunshots yesterday during a protest outside Congress by demonstrators who called on legislators to dismiss Mr Bucaram, radio reports said.