ECUADOR: DID GUTIERREZ FORMALLY RESIGN?

UNCLAS QUITO 000880 SIPDIS SENSITIVE E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV PREL EC SUBJECT: ECUADOR: DID GUTIERREZ FORMALLY RESIGN? REF: QUITO 871 ¶1. (SBU) Former President Lucio Gutierrez' resignation was de facto, having been forced to abandon the Presidential Palace on the afternoon of April 20 due to large-scale protests and the withdrawal of military support. He did not prepare and submit a formal written resignation, as he was forced to leave the Presidential palace via helicopter from the roof with great haste. Gutierrez, who is now sought for arrest, has made no television or other public declarations or appearances since leaving the palace. Former Presidential Secretary Carlos Polit told DCM on April 21 that it was SIPDIS highly unlikely the President would offer a resignation letter. KENNEY