Mexican foreign ministry says will indefinitely close its embassy in Ecuador

The Mexican Embassy in Ecuador will close indefinitely and suspend consular services for more than 1,600 Mexicans and businessmen in the South American nation, the Mexican Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement on Saturday.

The Mexican and business community in Ecuador can continue to receive assistance through the Registration System for Mexicans Abroad (SIRME) and from the Mexican embassies in Chile, Colombia and Peru, the statement said.

Mexico broke its diplomatic relations with Ecuador after Ecuadorian police broke into the country's embassy in Quito and arrested former Ecuadorian Vice President Jorge Glas.

"We are looking after our diplomats; they are not alone. They have shown dignity and decorum, as seen by the attitude of Raquel Serur, our ambassador, and Roberto Canseco, deputy chief of mission at the embassy," said Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, according to the statement.

The Mexican foreign ministry added that a group of 18 people will travel on Sunday on a commercial flight from Ecuador to Mexico City.

Governments in Latin America, including Brazil, Colombia, Argentina and Uruguay have criticized the arrest of Glas, who had sought refuge in the embassy since December.

Brazil's government condemned Ecuador's move as a "clear violation" of international norms prohibiting such a raid on a foreign embassy.

Ecuador's move against the embassy "must be subject to strong repudiation, whatever the justification for its implementation," according to a statement from Brazil's foreign ministry.

In a statement, Colombian President Gustavo Petro said Glas' right to asylum had been "barbarically violated" and called for an urgent examination of the "breach of the Vienna convention by a member state" conducted by international bodies, including the Organization of American States.

U.S. State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller in a statement said the United States condemns any violation of the convention protecting diplomatic missions.

(With input from agencies)