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According to O'Grady, Correa's presidential powers were never threatened, nor did tear gas fumes deter him from "walking across the street to the hospital, his notorious macho dignity obviously wounded."
In fact, he was overcome by exploding tear gas, AFP, among other news services, saying "he was taken out by stretcher to the nearby hospital," then "was unable to leave, surrounded by hostile police as clashes broke out in the streets while rebels stormed Congress and seized the main international airport for hours."
Clearly, it was a coup attempt. Outside America, Murdoch publications, and O'Grady's column, it's widely acknowledged. Even New York Times columnist Simon Romero reported the following in his October 3 article, titled, "Debate Over Meaning of Standoff in Ecuador:"
-- Correa "had been holed up on the third floor of the police hospital here for more than 10 hours after being assaulted by....rebellious police officers....This Andean nation was on tenterhooks;"
-- hospital staff "put a helmet on Mr. Correa;" electricity in parts of the hospital went down;
-- "an intense exchange of bullets" took place;
-- "five men were shot dead," dozens more wounded;
-- "the president's armored Nissan sport utility vehicle showed bullet damage, including a shot to the windshield;"
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