Bug Found in Ecuador’s Embassy in London

HAVANA TIMES — Ecuador’s Foreign Minister, Ricardo Patiño, reported today that a bug was found in the main office of the Ecuadorian embassy in London. He said that on Wednesday an announcement is forthcoming as to who owns that device.

Patino said the microphone was detected a few days ago, but it had not been announced while the investigation as to whom it belonged to was underway.  He said that information has been verified and would be made public tomorrow.

The foreign minister added that they will ask for “immediate explanations”  from the people suspected of planting the microphone.

Follow up story: Ecuador’s embassy bugging points to British firm, Surveillance Group Ltd.

The diplomat dissociated this fact with the electronic spying being conducted by the United States, denounced by former secret service worker Edward Snowden.

The official said that hereafter must tighter security must be put in place “because apparently the things we say among us are appearing publicly,” he said.

Patiño claimed that “Univision TV has shown an enormous capacity to obtain documents from the national government,” but said he was not “sure” that the broadcaster had “hacked” the embassy.

In relation to the request for asylum from Edward Snowden, Patiño said that if another country accepts his request, Ecuador will finalize its part in the process. “We are not fighting for him to come here,” he said.

Patino also proposed a meeting of the Union of South American Nations (UNASUR) to deal with the prohibition of Portugal to let the plane of Bolivian president, Evo Morales, to land in that country, over suspicions that Snowden was on board.

In the morning, Patino described the news agencies as “efficient spies” for publishing, before it reached the hands of President Rafael Correa, a thank you letter sent to him from Snowden.
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See related post: Evo Morales Angry over No-Fly in Europe