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ECUADOR
Leftist Chavez ally takes presidency
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Rafael Correa AP PHOTO
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Ecuador's Rafael Correa, a leftist ally of Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez, took almost certain victory in the presidential runoff after vowing reforms to rein in a discredited political elite.
Victory for Correa would make him the country's eighth president in 10 years and could strengthen Chavez's drive to challenge U.S. influence in Latin America.
Correa, a U.S.-trained economist who troubles both Wall Street and Washington, said Nov. 27 the vote in the runoff showed strong support for his proposals, including renegotiating debt and foreign oil contracts, a plan to rewrite the constitution and opposition to a U.S. free-trade pact.
The Japan Times Weekly: Dec. 2, 2006 (C) All rights reserved
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