Source: http://www.plenglish.com/article.asp?ID=%7B9C2F569B-10B0-4D8A-B527-4533F22ABF58%7D)&language=EN

Ecuador President Opens Assembly

Montecristi, Ecuador, Nov 30 (Prensa Latina) Ecuadorian President Rafael Correa and special guests attend Friday the opening ceremony of the National Constituent Assembly at the Ciudad Eloy Alfaro complex of this city.

Correa and Vice President Lenin Moreno, who were ratified in their posts Thursday night, will receive along with Alberto Acosta, top representative of the Assembly, ashes of the independentist fighter and former President Eloy Alfaro.

The remains of the former statesman, whose funeral was yesterday in Portoviejo, will be stored in the majestic Mausoleum erected next to this architectural complex' main building.

After the military ceremony and deposit of ashes in the mentioned temple, the head of State, in front of assembly members, statesmen and figures, will deliver Acosta the Sacred Spiritual Ceremonial Staff, from the Taitas and Mamas Yachacs indigenous organization.

Colombian President Alvaro Uribe, Venezuelan Hugo Chavez and Peruvian Alan Garcia, Bolivia's Foreign Minister David Choquehuanca, Brazil's Defense Minister Nelson Jobim and representatives from the Organization of American States and the Andean Community are to attend the meeting.

The Constituent Assembly's opening ceremony takes place after its first session concluding last night, in which the majority, made up of the Country Alliance Movement and other progressive forces, dismissed the National Congress.

The Constituent Assembly expects to meet again Monday to define regulations, draw up a new Constitution, and reform the State's institutional framework.