Brazil grants asylum to ousted Ecuadorean president

Brazil has granted asylum to former President Lucio Gutierrez, who was removed from office by Congress amid street protests calling for his ouster for abuse of power.

"Asylum was granted yesterday. President Gutierrez is in the residence of the Brazilian Embassy," Brazilian Ambassador Sergio Florencia said in an interview with Radio Caracol in Bogota, Colombia. "We are taking the necessary steps with the Ecuadorean Foreign Ministry to finalize procedures to obtain his safe conduct and his transfer to Brazil."

Florencia said he was not sure when that would occur "but our hope is that it will be as soon as possible."

MONTE HAYES, Associated Press Writer

On the picture: Lucio Gutierrez