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LINK CHANGE: LATIMES / 01 OCT/President Rafael Correa was rescued at night from a hospital where he was held captive for hours by striking federal police. Some 500 soldiers loyal to him charged the hospital and shots were fired.
Two police officers were reportedly killed and several injured.
"This is a coup attempt," President Rafael Correa had claimed on TV interview after police lobbed tear gas at him. He said police were trying to get at him. "They fired gas on us -- on the president of the republic," Correa said on TV. "This is treason to the country, treason to their president."
Striking police shut down airports and blocked highways protesting a new law that cuts their benefits.
It still is not not clear whether the police officers protesting a new law that would reduce their benefits and slow salary increases are seeking to control the government.
Earlier, they fired tear gas and burned tires after taking over barracks in Quito, Guayaquil and other cities.
Many schools in Quito shut down and businesses closed lacking police protection. There was looting in Quito with at least two banks were sacked -- and in Guayaquil where supermarkets were ransacked and robberies occurred.
Speaking with strikers, President Rafael Correa was shouted down and pelted with water.
"If you want to kill the president, here he is! Kill me!,'' said Correa. Correa suffered from tear gas in the melee.
A national state of emergency was declared. At least one was killed and some 70 injured. Peru and Colombia closed their borders with Ecuador.
YOUTUBE Video of Correa address to Nation (ES) AND tear gas scrum where he is injured and taken away:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hV6CCeCYFWI&feature=player_embedded#!
