The Ecuadorian government has sued Mexico at the International Court of Justice in The Hague, The Netherlands, in response to a Mexican lawsuit against Ecuador for storming its embassy in Quito.

Mexico had granted former Ecuadorian Vice President Jorge Glas asylum in its embassy after he was convicted of corruption.

In doing so it had interfered in the internal affairs of the South American country, the Ecuadorian Foreign Ministry asserted on Monday.

Mexico’s President Andrés Manuel López Obrador has also questioned the legitimacy of last year’s election in Ecuador.

The Ecuadorians said the action constituted a violation of international agreements. The International Court of Justice has confirmed the filing of the complaint.

Ecuadorian police officers forced their way into the Mexican embassy in Quito and arrested former Vice President Glas at the beginning of April.

The action was sharply criticised in many countries in the region and Europe.

Under international law, the security authorities of the host states do not actually have any powers in the diplomatic missions of other countries.

(dpa/NAN)