U.S. expels Ecuadorian ambassador

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WASHINGTON, April 8 (UPI) -- A WikiLeaks revelation that led to the U.S. ambassador's expulsion from Ecuador has in turn led to the United States ordering the Ecuadorian envoy to leave.

The WikiLeaks cable described allegations that Jaime Hurtado, commander of the Ecuadorian National Police, had engaged in massive corruption before his promotion to the post, CNN reported Thursday. U.S. diplomats suggested Hurtado's activities were so brazen and notorious that President Rafael Correa must have known of them when he named him to head the ENP.

Ecuador this week declared U.S. Ambassador Heather Hodges persona non grata and asked her to leave as soon as she could. The U.S. government responded Thursday with a similar declaration on Ambassador Luis Gallegos.

The cable on Hurtado was given to the Spanish newspaper El Pais by WikiLeaks, the whistle-blower Wb site.

In the cable, a diplomat speculates Correa may have selected Hurtado because he would be easy to manipulate. The Ecuadorian government called the suggestion Correa would knowingly appoint a corrupt man "unacceptable, malicious and reckless."