Ecuadorian President Correa denies links with FARC

Ecuadorian President Correa denies links with FARC

2011-05-19 04:18:18 GMT+7 (ICT)

QUITO, ECUADOR (BNO NEWS) -- Ecuadorian President Rafael Correa on Wednesday denied any links with the Colombia's FARC paramilitary group, El Comercio newspaper reported.

Correa denied receiving financial support from the FARC for his 2006 presidential campaign. He also said that he is willing to endure a polygraph test to prove his innocence as he was getting tired of the situation.

Hours earlier, Ecuador's General Prosecutor's Office opened an investigation over the alleged financial support from the FARC (Fuerzas Armadas Revolucionarias de Colombia) to Correa's campaign.

The probe came after the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) released a report on the findings made while examining hard disks seized during the operation that resulted in the killing of the FARC's second-in-command Raul Reyes, in March 2008.

The report indicated that Correa had communication with the former FARC leader in at least three occasions. Furthermore, it is alleged that the current Ecuadorian president received around $40,000 from the Colombian rebel militia.

IISS said that the first contact was through a middle man and the second thanks to a phone call from Ricardo Patino, the current Foreign Minister. After that, Correa and the FARC leader had three more telephone calls.

The Ecuador's leader added that instead of persecuting him, authorities should be questioning other opposition figures who Correa said are involved with FARC, including former President Lucio Gutiérrez and the ex-television host Carlos Vera.

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