BUENOS AIRES, January 10. /TASS/. Ecuador's President Daniel Noboa announced that the republic's authorities will start deporting foreign prisoners starting on January 10 due to the security crisis in the country, the Ecuavisa TV channel reported.

According to it, the head of state, speaking on a local radio station, said the plan is to deport 1,500 foreigners. The first to be expelled from Ecuador will be citizens of Venezuela, Colombia and Peru. Citizens of other countries make up about ten percent of the total number of foreigners in prison, Noboa said.

On January 9, Noboa signed a decree recognizing the country's internal armed conflict and ordered the neutralization of 22 criminal groups. The announcement was made after the hostage-taking of TC Televisi·n employees who were broadcasting live from a studio in Guayaquil at the time. Police detained 13 people, all hostages were released.

The security threat in Ecuador escalated on January 7 after a Los Choneros gang leader, nicknamed Fito, escaped from prison. Afterward, riots broke out in several penitentiaries. Ecuadorian President Daniel Noboa declared a state of emergency in the country and imposed a curfew on January 8.