Leftist new president vows radical changes

Leftist Rafael Correa, an ally of anti-US Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez, assumed the presidency of Ecuador yesterday, vowing to bring radical change to a nation that has had eight presidents in 10 years.

Correa, a 43-year-old former economy minister, was elected by a wide margin in November's run-off, beating a business magnate with promises to challenge unpopular political elites and lift millions out of poverty in the Andean state.

The tall, charismatic leader seems poised to follow Chavez's daring style, looking to renegotiate debt, rework oil deals, rewrite the constitution and not renew the lease on a military base used by the US military.