Former Ecuadorean President Lucio Gutierrez has formally requested political asylum in Colombia after receiving reports he is wanted in his homeland on treason charges.
Colombian officials say Mr. Gutierrez submitted his application after arriving from Peru Wednesday and that he has permission to remain in Colombia for 90 days while the asylum request is examined.
Last July, the Ecuadorean government issued an arrest warrant for the former president, charging him with harming national security. Aides to Mr. Gutierrez say the charges may be related to comments he made in the United States shortly after his ouster in April, claiming he remains Ecuador's constitutional president.
Ecuador's Congress removed Mr. Gutierrez from office after weeks of mass protests. Critics had demanded his resignation for what they called an abuse of power after he packed the Supreme Court with his allies.
Some information for this story provided by AP and Reuters.
