Quito (AFP) - Ecuador President Guillermo Lasso said on Wednesday he will not attended his country's clash with Qatar that opens the World Cup next week due to the wave of violence gripping the South American nation.
"I have thanked the Emir of Qatar for the invitation to attend the inaugural match between our national teams, however I have decided not to go.Dealing with the country's security situation is my priority," Lasso wrote on Twitter.
Hosts Qatar take on Ecuador in the opening match on November 20, where the South Americans will be represented by Vice President Alfredo Borrero.
Ecuador is wrestling with a serious security crisis linked to drug traffickers, who last week carried out several firearm and car bomb attacks on service stations and police stations.
These attacks left eight people dead and provoked the executive to declare a state of emergency in the three provinces most affected by the violence.
The attacks were revenge for the transfer of 2,400 inmates in a penitentiary system on the brink of collapse due to savage violence between prisoners representing different gangs.
Ecuador are preparing to compete at the World Cup for just the fourth time.
Chile and Peru had launched an appeal to FIFA against Ecuador's participation, claiming they had used an ineligible player during eight World Cup qualifiers.
But both a FIFA appeals committee and the Court of Arbitration for Sport ruled in Ecuador's favor.
They play Iraq on Saturday in a final pre-tournament friendly.
