Ecuador orders policeman who tried to kill president detained

Quito (AFP) - Ecuadoran authorities ordered a policeman accused of involvement in a failed 2010 coup bid against President Rafael Correa to be held pending investigation.

Prosecutor Franz Valverde in Quito ordered the detention of the officer, whose name was not disclosed. The officer faces a charge of attempting to kill the president; if convicted he could spend up to 12 years in prison.

The prosecutor's office said the arrest was made based on a videotape in which the suspect allegedly appears.

Correa has called the suspect "one of the sharpshooters who opened fire on innocent people including the president."

On September 20, 2010, a group of police rose up in a dramatic incident that left 10 people dead, 274 injured and which Correa considers an attempt to kill him and overthrow his government.

The socialist president, in power since 2007, also was assaulted as he tried to calm down demonstrators. He then took refuge in a hospital where he maintains rebel police held him against his will. After several hours, other military staff rescued him in a bloody shootout.

So far, 40 people have been convicted in connection with the uprising.