Ecuador's popular president tightened his hold over all branches of government Tuesday, sending police to prevent the return of opposition lawmakers as his tentative majority in Congress dismissed all nine members of the nation's highest court.

The Constitutional Tribunal on Monday had ordered the reinstatement of opposition lawmakers who had tried to block a constitutional referendum.

Correa scorned the tribunal's authority, surrounding Congress with police officers Tuesday to prevent the ousted lawmakers from returning, and some of their replacements were among the 52 members of the 100-member body who voted to fire the judges, arguing that their terms had expired in January.

If the ousted lawmakers were to retake their seats, Congress would return to opposition hands. They were meeting to plot their next move. But given that Correa now controls the courts, the legislature and the executive branch, that appears increasingly unlikely.