QUITO (Reuters) – Ecuador’s President Rafael Correa yesterday called for the closure of a national television station that is often critical of him and that recently aired a recording of the socialist leader made without his permission.
Correa accused broadcaster Teleamazonas of breaking the law by airing an audio recording of a conversation between himself and several supporters.
He said the tape was made clandestinely.
“Enough already!” Correa said. “They have clearly broken the law.”
No one from the television station was immediately available for comment. Teleamazonas, owned by a top banker critical of Correa’s reforms, has previously accused the government of trying to censure it.
Government regulators will review Correa’s demand that the station be closed.
Correa says some private news media conspire against his government. His actions could mirror those of Venezuela’s leftist leader Hugo Chavez. He refused to renew the licence of one broadcaster two years ago and has threatened to close another anti-government TV channel.
Leftist allies in Bolivia and Nicaragua also have clashed with media they accuse of protecting the interests of rich elites who oppose their programmes for the poor.
