by Gouda » Wed Oct 18, 2006 10:36 am
<!--EZCODE BOLD START--><strong> Official: No election fraud in Ecuador's presidential vote</strong><!--EZCODE BOLD END--><br><!--EZCODE AUTOLINK START--><a href="http://edition.cnn.com/2006/WORLD/americas/10/17/ecuador.vote.fraud.ap/index.html">edition.cnn.com/2006/WORL...index.html</a><!--EZCODE AUTOLINK END--><br><!--EZCODE QUOTE START--><blockquote><strong><em>Quote:</em></strong><hr>Ecuador's top election official on Tuesday dismissed allegations from the leftist candidate in the presidential runoff that the breakdown of the computerized "quick count" in Sunday's election indicates fraud...<br><br>The electoral tribunal pulled the plug on the $5.2 million contract it had with the Brazilian company, E-Vote, hired to carry out the quick count, after <!--EZCODE BOLD START--><strong>its computer system crashed with some 30 percent of ballots still uncounted</strong><!--EZCODE BOLD END-->...<br><br>With 51 percent of the paper ballots counted Tuesday, Alvaro Noboa, 55, Ecuador's wealthiest man, and Rafael Correa, 43, who has been heavily critical of U.S. policy in Latin America, each had about 25 percent of the vote -- <!--EZCODE BOLD START--><strong>a different result from Sunday night, when a computerized "quick count" of paper ballots showed Noboa taking a surprising 4-point lead over Correa.</strong><!--EZCODE BOLD END--><hr></blockquote><!--EZCODE QUOTE END--><br>And from the fucking dittoheads at the <!--EZCODE ITALIC START--><em>New York Times/IHT</em><!--EZCODE ITALIC END-->:<br><br><!--EZCODE BOLD START--><strong>Runner-up in Ecuador attacked on Chávez ties</strong><!--EZCODE BOLD END--><br><!--EZCODE AUTOLINK START--><a href="http://www.iht.com/articles/2006/10/17/news/ecuador.php">www.iht.com/articles/2006...cuador.php</a><!--EZCODE AUTOLINK END--><br><br><!--EZCODE QUOTE START--><blockquote><strong><em>Quote:</em></strong><hr>QUITO, Ecuador Rafael Correa, the charismatic economist who had <!--EZCODE BOLD START--><strong>a surprisingly weak showing</strong><!--EZCODE BOLD END--> Sunday in the first round of voting for president, finds himself in a situation that has plagued leftists in other Latin American elections this year: defending his ties to President Hugo Chávez of Venezuela. [ *rolling eyes emoticon* - Gouda]<br>...<br><br>The unexpected results in the election here, meanwhile, point to growing unease in some parts of Latin America with political projects whose ambitions coincide too closely with those of Chávez. [ *rolling eyes emoticon* - Gouda]<br>...<br><br>Noboa called Correa a "friend of terrorists, a friend of Chávez, a friend of Cuba." [ *rolling eyes emoticon* - Gouda] Correa said Noboa would rule Ecuador like a "banana plantation."<br>...<br><br>Now Noboa, a billionaire who controls more than 100 companies in Ecuador and other countries, signaled that he would end diplomatic relations with Venezuela and Cuba if elected.<br>...<br><br>Noboa campaigned from the right as a God-fearing businessman, promising cheap housing and handing out free wheelchairs to handicapped supporters. [ *rolling eyes emoticon* - Gouda]<br>...<br><br>Issues other than Venezuela have also dominated Ecuador's presidential race. Noboa wants to negotiate a trade agreement with Washington and favors extending an agreement that would allow American soldiers to remain in Manta, an air base used by the U.S. military for drug surveillance flights.<br>...<br><br>Correa said during the campaign that Chávez was a friend and acknowledged meeting with him in Venezuela as recently as August. He repeatedly denied receiving campaign financing from the Venezuelan government. [ *rolling eyes emoticon* - Gouda] <hr></blockquote><!--EZCODE QUOTE END--> <br>And back in the homeland:<br><br><!--EZCODE BOLD START--><strong>EXCLUSIVE: FIRST BUSH-APPOINTED CHAIR OF U.S. ELECTION ASSISTANCE COMMISSION SAYS 'NO STANDARDS' FOR E-VOTING DEVICES, SYSTEM 'RIPE FOR STEALING ELECTIONS'!</strong><!--EZCODE BOLD END--><br>Former Chair Says He 'Was Deceived', EAC and Federal Efforts for Election Reform 'A Charade', 'Travesty'!<br><!--EZCODE AUTOLINK START--><a href="http://www.bradblog.com/?p=3491#more-3491">www.bradblog.com/?p=3491#more-3491</a><!--EZCODE AUTOLINK END--> <p></p><i></i>
