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April 6, 2011

Ecuador Expels U.S. Ambassador over WikiLeaks Cables 
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The U.S. ambassador in Ecuador has been expelled over comments made in a
diplomatic cable released by the online whistleblower Wiki Leaks. In a
July 2009 message, U.S. Ambassador Heather Hodges said the United States
should revoke the visa of Ecuador's national police commander for his
alleged ties to extortion, theft and human trafficking. Hodges also
suggested President Rafael Correa knew of the police commander's alleged
corruption but appointed him anyway. In Washington, State Department
spokesperson Mark Toner criticized Hodges' expulsion.

Mark Toner: "The Ecuadorean government has declared Ambassador Heather
Hodges persona non grata. Ambassador Hodges is one our most experienced
and talented diplomats, and the Department considers her expulsion
unjustified, and we deeply regret the Ecuadorean government took it. The
Department will examine its options to respond to this Ecuadorean
action."



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