The Friends of Charles Darwin

Ecuador officials say police have taken control of the Galapagos Islands national park following a row over the appointment of a new park director. Park wardens protesting against the appointment have been involved in clashes with local fishermen. The wardens say the president is treating the directorship as a political favour, and the constant changes are hampering their work. The new park director, Fausto Cepeda, is the eighth in two years.