BRASILIA, Brazil - Ecuador's former president began a life in exile in Brazil with his countrymen still arguing over whether his ouster was legal and a close ally predicting he will return to his homeland to resume power one day.

Lucio Gutierrez left the Brazilian ambassador's residence in the Ecuadoran capital by the back entrance Sunday and was taken by a police vehicle to a helicopter.

Seven hours later, he arrived at a military base in Brazil's capital on an air force jet, accompanied by his wife and one of two daughters. They immediately left the base in a helicopter, apparently headed for a military-run hotel.

Gutierrez, the third leader of this unstable, oil-rich Andean nation forced from office in eight years, did not talk to reporters as he walked to the helicopter.

Gutierrez, 48, had been holed up in the ambassador's residence in Quito for four days following Congress's decision to remove him from office amid massive anti-government protests.

Gutierrez took office in January 2003 as a populist, anti-corruption reformer but soon angered many Ecuadoreans by adopting economic austerity measures. Many also were upset by growing accusations of nepotism and corruption in his inner circle.

He dissolved the Supreme Court a week ago in hopes of placating protesters who accused him of stacking the court in his favor. But the move backfired and set off even more massive protests.