Congress gives OK to referendum

Ecuador's Congress approved holding a referendum on whether to create an assembly to rewrite the constitution, bowing to demands by leftist President Rafael Correa, who is seeking to weaken traditional political parties.

Correa blames the parties for the Andean nation's problems. He called on Ecuadoreans "to fulfill their role in history, crushing the political mafias at the ballot boxes."

Ecuador has been marked by political instability, with seven presidents in the last decade. More than 60% of the population lives in poverty.