ECUADOR’S Foreign Minister Ricardo Patino will step down temporarily to build the Citizens’ Revolution grassroots movement, President Rafael Correa said on Thursday.

South American satellite TV network Telesur reported that Mr Correa had asked Mr Patino to take two months’ leave in the light of right-wing destabilisation attempts against the PAIS Alliance government.

Mr Correa said: “In Quito, the largest of the opposition demonstrations had 5,000 people, but (they were) very aggressive and some 1,200 wanted to enter Carondelet (the presidential palace). They could destabilise the government, they could generate violence. We cannot allow that.”

The day before, polls showed 65 per cent support for the government among residents of major cities.

On Wednesday, Cuba’s parliament pledged unanimous support for Ecuador against the “offensive unleashed by imperialism against progressive governments in this region.”