RIGHTWINGERS protested across Ecuador on Wednesday following President Rafael Correa’s sacking of the country’s four top generals for issuing statements on “administrative matters.”

Head of the joint chiefs of staff General Luis Garzon had condemned the government on Twitter for fining the army pension fund and “taking resources away from ... soldiers and their families.”

Marches and rallies by opposition supporters were, however, dwarfed by counter-demonstrations by supporters of Mr Correa’s socialist Pais Alliance government.

“Soldiers can have certainty over their pensions,” Mr Correa said. “Our armed forces are very important for the country, but they are not the whole country.”

The Morning Star’s contact on the scene said the protest demonstration in the capital Quito drew around 500 people, while 2-3,000 gathered to hear Mr Correa speak.

The president also hit back at the mainstream media for labelling him a dictator.

“I want the press to listen to me. Stop manipulating the people,” he said. “Everything we are doing is legal and for the goodwill of the people.”

But one opposition protester told regional broadcaster Telesur that “Correa should resign,” claiming that Ecuador was in a state of “total insecurity” and suffering a moral crisis.

She said the dismissal of the military high command was just one of many “abuses” by the government and that Mr Correa should be jailed.

The dispute began last week when the government confronted the generals over a suspicious land transaction in 2010.

The Social Security Institute of the Armed Forces (ISSFA) allegedly overcharged the Ministry of Environment for land sold for over £33 million — £28m above the value logged on the land registry.

But the head of the joint chiefs of staff and the leaders of the army, navy and air force portrayed the government’s request for reimbursement as an attack on the army pension fund.

“With much pain I’ve had to dismiss the high command,” Mr Correa tweeted last Friday. We will not allow anyone to manipulate soldiers or the country.

“Military pensions are guaranteed by article 370 of the constitution and by ISSFA,” he added later.