Ecuador defense ministry spat ends in shake-up – Agence France-Presse

Ecuador’s top diplomat, Ricardo Patino, will take over as defense minister after the previous chief resigned in a spat over cuts to the military pension fund by President Rafael Correa, officials said Thursday. Patino, a close ally of the leftist president, has held a series of cabinet posts in his administration, and has been highly visible as foreign minister for his outspoken defense of Ecuador’s decision to grant exile to WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange in its London embassy. Read more>>