Ecuadorean President Rafael Correa ordered a U.S. Embassy official to leave on Saturday after accusing him of meddling in local police projects, a move likely to fray ties with Washington, according to Reuters. Correa, a popular leftist, has generally kept good relations with the United States since he took office in 2007, but his socialist allies in Bolivia and Venezuela have often clashed with Washington over U.S. policies in Latin America. "Foreign minister, give this gentleman 48 hours to pack up his suitcases and get out of the country," Correa said during his weekly media address. "We're not going to let anyone treat us as if we were a colony here." The U.S. State Department was aware of the announcement and was checking into it, spokesman Fred Lash said. Correa said U.S. official Armando Astorga had abruptly ended a financing deal with local police after authorities refused to abide by his terms in selecting officers in charge of the aid projects. "Mr Astorga keep your dirty money. We don't need it. We have dignity in this country," Correa said. "Ecuador doesn't need charity from anyone." There has been tension with Washington since Correa vowed not to renew a lease ending this year on a coastal air base used by U.S. troops for counternarcotics missions. But for the first time, Correa said on Saturday he would allow U.S. Coast Guard planes to land there if needed. The former college professor is known for his quick temper, ejecting a journalist from a live interview and ordering the arrest of people he charged had hurled insults or made offensive gestures at his presidential motorcade. Correa, a U.S.-educated economist, has also been tough on foreign companies by repeatedly threatening to expel them over contractual disagreements or legal disputes. Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez, a standard-bearer for anti-U.S. sentiment, last year expelled the U.S. ambassador to Caracas and Bolivian President Evo Morales kicked out the U.S. envoy in September after accusing him of fanning civil unrest.
