Ecuador to shutter borders over weekend, militarize ports

Soldiers carry out a security patrol at the Ecuador-Colombia border, in Tulcan

QUITO (Reuters) - Ecuador's borders will be closed from Saturday to next Monday, President Daniel Noboa said in a post on X on Monday, while also ratcheting up the military's presence at the borders and at ports.

Noboa said the borders would be closed over the weekend, when he is facing 15 opponents in a Sunday presidential election, due to "attempts by armed groups to destabilize the country."

(Reporting by Alexandra Valencia; Editing by Leslie Adler)