*Ecuador runs out of Electricity as Drought dries up water supplies*

Ecuador has introduced electricity rationing after a drought led to
acute water shortages at the country's main hydro-electric power plant
at Paute.

There have already been blackouts in the capital, Quito, and the Pacific
port city of Guayaquil, officials say.

They say power to residential areas will be cut by between 5% and 10%,
but businesses will not be affected.

The drought, which has hit the Andes region, is the worst in four
decades, correspondents say.

The Paute plant, in eastern Ecuador, has been forced to halve its
average production because of the drought.