Ecuadorean soldiers confront with opposition protestors. Ecuadoran Vice President Alfredo Palacio is sworn in as president after Congress voted to fire President Lucio Gutierrez, in Quito, April 20, 2005. (Xinhua/AFP Photo)

    QUITO, April 20 (Xinhuanet) -- About 200 protesters took control of the building of Ecuador's Social Welfare Ministry in the north of the capital Quito on Wednesday and set it on fire.

    The demonstrators went to the office building to attack former Vice Minister Bolivar Gonzalez who is considered as one of the hard-liners in former President Lucio Gutierrez's government and who allegedly mobilized and paid people to back the administrationin Quito.

    During the protest, some officials of the ministry started to fire from upper floors at the protesters. Three demonstrators were said to be injured.

    The enraged people then broke windows of the lower floors, tossed Molotov cocktail inside and set the building ablaze. They also robbed computers, valuables and belongings of the officials.

    Firefighters put the fire under control 10 minutes later. Assessment of the damage and losses will start soon.

    Ecuador has been in turmoil as the congress voted on Wednesday to dismiss President Gutierrez for "abandoning his post" and named Vice President Alfredo Palacio to replace him.

    After taking office, Palacio has ordered the immediate closure of the country's borders to prevent the exit of politicians sought by justice, including Gutierrez. Enditem