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US soldiers 'disguising as tourists'
President Evo Morales accused the US government on Tuesday of sending "soldiers disguised as students and tourists" to Bolivia in remarks that come as his political opponents are denouncing Morales's coziness with Venezuela's military.
- AP
- Published: 00:00 June 22, 2006
La Paz: President Evo Morales accused the US government on Tuesday of sending "soldiers disguised as students and tourists" to Bolivia in remarks that come as his political opponents are denouncing Morales's coziness with Venezuela's military.
During a speech to thousands of peasants in Cochabamba state, his political stronghold, Morales said US Ambassador David Greenlee had sought a meeting with him.
"He asked for a meeting. I don't know what he's looking to discuss. I'm not at all afraid of talking or perhaps he's angry," said Morales.
"But I also have the right to complain because US soldiers disguised as students and tourists are entering the country," said Morales, an Aymara Indian elected in December with a strong mandate to lead a cultural and populist revolution.
The leftist Bolivian president offered no evidence to back up the claim. His spokesman, Alex Contreras, said on Tuesday night that Morales would be providing evidence though he did not say when.
On Sunday, during a meeting in the same region of coca growers, Morales had uttered a phrase in the native Quechua language that may have irritated the US ambassador.
Morales main political opponent, former president Jorge Quiroga, accused him this week of compromising Bolivia's sovereignty by inviting in so many Venezuelan soldiers.
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