Most of Ecuador's Top Military Chiefs Resign

Reuters Photo

QUITO, Ecuador (Reuters) - The heads of Ecuador's Navy, Air Force and Joint Chiefs of Staff all presented their resignations on Tuesday, the government said without providing a reason.

The resignations came during a military trial of the former head of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and 117 mid-ranking officers for their parts in a brief, bloodless coup that overthrew democratically-elected President Jamil Mahuad in January.

The government of President Gustavo Noboa has asked Congress to approve a pardon for the men this week.

Telmo Sandoval, head of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Enrique Monteverde, head of the Navy, and Air Force Chief Ricardo Irigoyen have presented their resignations to Noboa, a government news release said.

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Noboa, who had been Mahuad's vice-president, was named to succeed him by Congress and has pressed on with his ambitious plan to adopt the U.S. dollar as national currency despite fierce opposition from unions and native Indian groups.