ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1997, Roanoke Times
DATE: Wednesday, February 12, 1997 TAG: 9702120074
SECTION: NATL/INTL PAGE: A-4 EDITION: METRO
DATELINE: QUITO, ECUADOR
Congress selected its own leader, Fabian Alarcon, as Ecuador's interim president Tuesday night in the latest act in a weeklong political drama following the ousting of the country's elected leader.
Alarcon was chosen by a vote of 57-2 to replace caretaker president Rosalia Arteaga, who resigned earlier Tuesday after threatening not to leave the post.
Before resigning, she issued a decree calling for a national referendum on whether the country's vice president - the spot she occupied before being elevated Sunday by Congress - should succeed the president if the position becomes vacant.
Meanwhile, Abdala Bucaram, known as "El Loco," sacked as president last week by Congress, left the country Tuesday to spread the word that ``a civilian dictatorship has been imposed.''
``I am President of the Republic. I never resigned and never will resign,'' Bucaram, dressed in jeans and a sports shirt, told reporters and a small group of curious onlookers after arriving at Panama City airport Tuesday night.
The 49-year-old Alarcon will serve as president until 1998, and must call new elections.
- Associated Press
LENGTH: Short : 33 linesby CNB