Ecuador Assembly Snubs Old Deputies

Quito, Jan 3 (Prensa Latina) After the announced intention of several Ecuadorian deputies to meet Thursday in the capital, the first vice president of the Constituent Assembly, Fernando Cordero, reaffirmed Congress was rendered inactive last year.

"The suspended deputies cannot retake their posts, have been separated from Congress, and the Constituent Assembly has assumed legislative functions until the referendum," Cordero highlighted.

He made his statements after Jorge Cevallos, the president of Parliament, in indefinite recess since November 29, informed he would meet with several of his colleagues.

The meeting would be to dialogue on the Assembly resolution, Cevallos said when rejecting the idea that it was a self-summoning.

According to analysts, the Assembly"s full powers make it an armoured institution, along with the popular support at the polls on September 30.

Upon the setting up of the Assembly, its members ratified Rafael Correa as Ecuadorian president, Lenin Moreno as vice president, and decreed an indefinite recess for the 100 congressional deputies.