Honduras recalls top diplomat in Ecuador over Mexico embassy raid

FILE PHOTO: Honduras Foreign Minister Eduardo Enrique Reina meets Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang in Beijing

FILE PHOTO: Honduras Foreign Minister Eduardo Enrique Reina makes a joint statement with his Chinese counterpart following a ceremony establishing diplomatic relations between the two countries, at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse in Beijing, China March 26, 2023. Greg Baker/Pool via REUTERS/File Photo

Source: REUTERS

Honduras is recalling its senior diplomat in Ecuador, the Central American country's foreign minister announced on Tuesday, in the latest action taken in response to Ecuador's shocking raid this month on the Mexican embassy in Quito.

Foreign Minister Enrique Reina said the Honduran business manager, Clarivel Vallecillo, who has been stationed at the embassy, will return to Tegucigalpa for consultations, stressing that Honduras backs Mexico's recently-filed case against Ecuador in the U.N.'s International Court of Justice.

The April 5 raid on the Mexican embassy to arrest former Ecuadorean Vice President Jorge Glas triggered an abrupt break in relations between Mexico City and Quito, as well as wave of condemnation for the decision by Ecuador's government to force its way into the facility.

Glas, twice convicted of corruption and now facing fresh charges, had sought refuge in the embassy since late last year.

The government of Ecuador's President Daniel Noboa has argued that Mexican officials had illegally granted Glas protection at their embassy.

Late last week, a court in Ecuador ruled that the dramatic arrest of Glas was illegal, but added he must remain in jail due to his previous convictions. Glas' lawyer pledged to appeal the ruling.

This article was produced by Reuters news agency. It has not been edited by Global South World.

By Reuters