In the midst of protests that have shut down oil exports, Ecuador's defense minister was replaced Friday by a general who pledged to restore order in several restive provinces, dpa reported Although Solon Espinosa was said to have quit because of "personal reasons", officials indicated privately that President Alfredo Palacio dismissed him because of his handling of protests in two oil- rich Amazon provinces. The protests, aimed in part against two North American oil companies operating in the area, have practically paralyzed petroleum production. States of emergency, as well as curfews, were imposed in the strike regions late Thursday. But reports Friday said the week-old unrest was continuing and Ecuador said it was suspending the crude oil exports to "safeguard national reserves". New defense minister General Oswaldo Jarrin pledged to end the unrest, saying Ecuador's armed forces have always sided with the Ecuadorian people, and at this time "must make the rebellion and the illegal and indiscriminate use of force cease so that democratic procedures can return." He said the states of emergencies decreed in the two provinces would continue, with the aim of restoring peace and protecting Ecuador's economy. In a televised address to the nation, Palacio called the unrest an "attempt to destabilize the government". The protests began last Sunday in Sucumbios and Orellana, where citizens are demanding more public roads, more jobs for local workers with foreign petroleum companies and the expulsion from the provinces of two oil firms, U.S.-based Occidental and the Canadian firm Encana. Protesters took over airports and public buildings and destroyed at least one police station. A third province, Napo, Thursday announced it would join the general strike. The government has accused protesters of vandalizing major pipelines to disrupt the flow of oil. --more 1404 Local Time 1104 GMT
