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Oil Production Resumes Slowly in Ecuador


Ecuador's state-run oil company, Petroecuador, has restored some operations that had been interrupted by six days of protests.

Company officials say production totaled around 33,000 barrels of crude oil per day on Saturday. However, the rate was still far from the normal output of more than 200,000 barrels.

Army troops and police have been helping to restore order and oil production since the government declared a state of emergency in the Sucumbios and Orellana provinces. Protesters there have been demanding new contract negotiations with foreign oil firms.

They also have called for increased spending on infrastructure and social programs.

The demonstrations forced Petroecuador to suspend production and the government to seek a temporary loan of oil from Venezuela to keep up exports.

Most of Ecuador's oil exports go to the United States.

Some information for this report provided by AP, AFP and Reuters.

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