Members of Ecuador's National Police are waging a large-scale protest against Ecuadorian President Rafael Correa's spending cuts passed in the legislative assembly Sept. 29 that would eliminate police benefits. In the capital city of Quito, police reportedly have occupied the main military regiment headquarters, while protesters have blocked a bridge and the Maldonado and Pusuqui avenues. Though earlier reports claimed the air force had shut down the airport, the Quito mayor denied this claim and said only police were blocking the runway. Earlier, police were blockading the legislative assembly. Protests have spread to the city of Guyaquil as well as Tungurahua, Cuenca, Carchi and Manabai provinces. Correa has appealed for calm and is reportedly negotiating with some of the protesting police units to try to contain the situation. Though the president has struggled in asserting his clout over the country's security apparatus, these latest police protests thus far do not demonstrate the capability to overthrow the government. The most critical indicator that the president will be able to maintain control of the situation is the fact that the head of the Ecuadorian armed forces, Gen. Ernesto Gonzalez, has reaffirmed his support for the president. Reports are emerging over a possible meeting with Correa and the top police and military brass, who have remained loyal to the president, to formulate a solution to the current crisis. Correa, whose popularity is hovering around 50 percent, is currently working to reassert his authority over the legislative assembly, which remains in political gridlock. Correa said Sept. 29 he was considering dissolving the National Assembly as early as Oct. 4. The prospect of Correa dissolving the legislature indefinitely would be of deep concern for his opposition, who could be using these police protests as an attempt to weaken the president's grip. Indeed, many of the press reports coming out of Quito appear to exaggerate the military's — as opposed to the police's — involvement in the protests. An important figure to watch is former military official and Ecuadorian President Lucio Gutierrez, who Correa claimed in January was sending e-mails to the Ecuadorian armed forces encouraging them to destabilize Correa's government. Gutierrez is believed to have maintained influence in the army and played a role in implementing the 2000 coup against President Jamil Mahuad. Though Correa still appears to be in control and the chief of the armed forces is reaffirming his support for the president, the situation remains shaky. Meanwhile, crime is likely to escalate the longer these police protests persist and security forces remain distracted. Already, two banks reportedly have been targeted by thieves in Manabi province.