Honduras recalls top diplomat in Ecuador over Mexico embassy raid

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

TEGUCIGALPA (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.

FILE PHOTO: People protest to demand the release of Ecuador’s former Vice President Jorge Glas, who is seeking to be released from prison after his detention during an armed raid on Mexico’s embassy where he had sought and been granted political asylum in Mexico, as a court meeting to rule on a habeas corpus request takes place, in Quito, Ecuador April 12, 2024. REUTERS/Karen Toro/File Photo

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.

FILE PHOTO: Police and military officials stand outside the Flagrancy Unit, where former Ecuador Vice President Jorge Glas is believed to be detained, in Quito, Ecuador April 5, 2024. REUTERS/Karen Toro/File Photo

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.

(Reporting by Gustavo Palencia; Writing by Brendan O’Boyle; Editing by Sarah Morland and Bill Berkrot)