Mexico has broken off diplomatic relations with Ecuador and vowed to bring the Andean nation before an international court after police broke into its embassy in Quito and captured Ecuador’s former vice-president, who was sheltering there after being convicted of corruption.
President Daniel Noboa’s hardline conservative government ordered officers into the embassy premises after Mexico’s leftwing administration granted asylum to Jorge Glas, who served as Ecuador’s vice-president from 2013-18 and was later sentenced to 14 years in jail.
Police forced their way into the embassy late on Friday night as heavily armed troops stood guard outside. Video posted on social media showed two black police jeeps leaving the diplomatic premises with sirens wailing as Mexico’s acting ambassador Roberto Canseco shouted “No, no, this is a violation, this is not possible!” and was wrestled to the ground by police.