QUITO, Sept. 8 (Xinhuanet) -- Ecuador's Interior Minister Mauricio Gandara resigned on Thursday amid mounting criticism for his failure to handle the Aug. 15-22 strike in the country.

    The government palace said Gandara, who also acted as President Alfredo Palacio's cabinet chief, would be replaced by Foreign Commerce Minister Oswaldo Molestina.

    Lawmakers have criticized Gandara for his failure to act decisively to stem the violent protests in two oil-rich Amazon provinces which shut down oil production.

    Led by local elected officials, hundreds of protesters, who said poor communities in northeast Ecuador were not benefiting enough from the regions' oil wealth, seized facilities and forced a halt in state production.

    The demonstrations ended when oil companies agreed to increase local investment. Enditem