QUITO, Ecuador, April 22 (UPI) -- The fate of former Ecuadorian President Lucio Gutierrez was uncertain Friday as some officials called for his arrest and others said he's free to leave.
Gutierrez is in the Brazilian embassy in Quito, where he was granted asylum by the Brazilian government. Brazil has offered to fly the ex-president out of Ecuador and into Brazil.
Ecuador's foreign ministry said Gutierrez is free to go, however, the newly sworn in president, former Vice-President Alfredo Palacio, called for his arrest.
Palacio has also proposed Ecuador draft a new constitution and other political reforms.
Ecuador's Congress ousted Gutierrez Wednesday night amid widespread demonstrations across the country. Demonstrators called on Gutierrez to resign over the firings of the Supreme Court and other abuses of power.
He also was criticized for not doing enough to end political corruption and improve Ecuador's sagging economy.
