Source:
CNN/Associated Pressupdated 2 hours, 32 minutes ago
Ecuador seizes TV stations; economy minister quits
Agency takes over two TV stations, other businesses for debts due to bank failures
QUITO, Ecuador (AP) -- Ecuador's government seized television stations and nearly 200 other businesses Tuesday for debts stemming from bank failures in the 1990s. The economy minister resigned hours after the takeover.
A state agency that protects depositors in failed banks took over the offices of TC Television and Gamavision in early-morning raids backed by dozens of police.
It also took over dozens of other properties of Grupo Isaias, including insurance, agriculture, construction and real estate businesses allegedly linked to bankers facing embezzlement charges who fled to the United States.
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The deposit agency's manager, Carlos Bravo, insisted at a news conference that the government was not persecuting the press and said he hoped the seized stations would be returned to private ownership "as soon as possible."
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He said Correa was not even informed of the decision to take over the stations until Monday night.
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http://www.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/americas/07/08/ecuador.tvdispute.ap/index.html