Ecuador's defence minister killed in air collision

QUITO, Jan 25 (Reuters) Ecuador's first female defence minister was killed in a mid-air collision of two helicopters after only nine days in office, government and military officials said.

The accident yesterday, in the Andean nation further rattles the leftist government of President Rafael Correa, who has clashed with Congress over his executive powers and prompted street protests since taking office along with his ministers on January 15.

Minister Guadalupe Larriva, a former teacher and senior official of a socialist political party supporting Correa, died in the crash in a Pacific coastal province east of Quito, presidential spokeswoman Monica Chuji said.

Ecuadorean Vice President Lenin Moreno said he received a report from the military saying it was an unfortunate accident, ''but under these circumstances we usually call for a commission to investigate.'' Other Cabinet members dressed in black gathered inside Moreno's home in Quito to mourn Larriva's death.

''We as the government will carry out a deep investigation,'' Interior Minister Gustavo Larrea told a television station.

He said Correa traveled to the port city of Manta near the crash site.

Correa wanted Larriva, one of a few civilians to lead Ecuador's 176-year-old military, to control an institution that has played a part in the ouster of three presidents in the last decade by publicly withdrawing its support as street protests erupted.

Larriva, one of the most popular members of the Cabinet, had promised to strengthen presidential control of military ranks, improve salaries for the armed forces and make the promotions system more transparent.

US firefighters stationed at an air base in Manta rushed to the scene of the crash, a US Embassy spokesman said.

Before flying to the crash site, Correa asked the country to ''pray for the soul of Guadalupe, her daughter, her family and the government of Ecuador.'' REUTERS PB SSC1055