Havana - Ecuadorean President Rafael Correa ended Saturday a three-day visit to Cuba during which he argued for an end to the US economic embargo on the communist country and hopes for better ties with the forthcoming presidency of Barack Obama.

The leftist-oriented Correa had met with Cuban President Raul Castro during a visit which observers saw as part of Havana's effort to demonstrate to Obama that Cuba is no longer isolated in the Latin American community.

Prior to Correa, Panamanian President Martin Torrijos had visited Cuba, while Chilean President Michel Bachelet is due to visit in February.

Quito - Ecuador President Rafael Correa announced that his government would default on foreign debt that he called illegitimate, and vowed to assume "the responsibility of the consequences."

The leftist economist ordered a halt to paying 30.6 million of interest on the Global 2012 bond issue that is due December 15.

"We know whom we're up against, true monsters that will not hesitate to try to destroy the country and make Ecuador an example," he said. "We accept this responsibility."

PUERTO VILLAMIL, Ecuador, Dec. 5 -- Park rangers at Ecuador's Galapagos National Park said a tortoise believed to be the last of its subspecies has failed in two attempts at fathering children.

The rangers said the 90-year-old tortoise named Lonesome George -- the last known member of the Pinta Island tortoise subspecies
-- has shown little interest in mating since it was found in 1971, The Daily Telegraph reported Friday.

Lonesome George, who has become a regional icon for conservation, did mate with two female tortoises of another subspecies in June and both of the females later laid eggs. However, scientists said all of the eggs turned out to be infertile.

Quito - Ecuador President Rafael Correa confirmed that he will make an official visit to Iran this week, to strengthen ties between the two oil-producing nations and to bolster bilateral trade and cooperation.

Correa vowed to work for "the maximum benefit of our people, and what is signed will be fulfilled," noting that he will lead a group of local businessman seeking opportunities in the Iranian market.

New Delhi, Nov 17 : India and Ecuador signed an Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Agricultural Research and Education and Cultural Exchange Programme for 2009-11 here today.

The agreement was signed by the officials of the two countries in the presence of visiting Ecuador Minister of Foreign Affairs Trade and Integration Maria Isabel Salvador and External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee in New Delhi today.

Ecuador Minister Salvador is on a two-day visit to India.