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The nation's streets are empty after a national state of siege was declared with the military, not national police, in charge.
The airports have reopened. So have the borders with Colombia and Peru.
And, Gen. Freddy Martinez, the chief of the national police, many of whom protested recent salary revisions and even threatened President Correa, has resigned.
Now the blame game is underway.
"There were lots of infiltrators, dressed as civilians, and we know where they were from," Correa claims. "They wanted deaths, they wanted blood."
Both he and Foreign Minister Ricardo Patino are fingering former President Lucio Gutierrez (pictured), who co-led the 2000 coup that ousted Jamil Mahuad. Correa says after his rescue that "the people of Lucio Gutierrez were there, provoking, inciting to violence."
On Bloomberg/BW... Some experts speculate that Correa may use the failed uprising to consolidate his power and expand his control. He has been pushing pushing for alterations to at least 31 laws, including industrial, financial, labor, water and land regulations.
http://www.businessweek.com/news/2010-10-01/correa-may-use-failed-uprising-to-push-ecuador-changes.html
SEE ALSO, M.HERALD: UPDATE : 02 Oct : ``He (Correa) showed himself to be impulsive and confrontational,'' said expert Michael Shifter. ``That's his style, and it's not a formula for stability.''
AND: "He has victimized himself,'' said analyst Mauricio de Vengoechea, who added Correa staged the crisis to gain power.``Now he is totally strengthened.''
http://www.miamiherald.com/2010/10/01/v-fullstory/1853257/ecuadors-leader-finds-new-strength.html
