 LA PAZ, Bolivia - President Evo Morales drew a sharp denial from the U.S. Embassy when he claimed in a speech that the United States is sending soldiers disguised as students and tourists to Bolivia.
| I'm not even real clear on why we'd be sending real students and tourists to Bolivia, much less fake ones. |
The accusation, which the U.S. Embassy dismissed as the ravings of a madman unfounded Wednesday, comes as Morales faces attacks by political opponents for his cozy relationship with President Hugo Chavez's Venezuela, including accepting aid from that country's military.
| "So tell us, Evo. What's the diffo between American hegemony and Venezuelan hegemony?" |
Morales said in a speech Tuesday that U.S. Ambassador David Greenlee had sought a meeting with him. "I don't know what he's looking to discuss. I'm not at all afraid of talking - or perhaps he's angry," Morales told thousands of poor supporters. "But I also have the right to complain because U.S. soldiers disguised as students and tourists are entering the country," said Morales, a leftist who has pledged revolutionary changes for the poor, including his recent move to nationalize Bolivia's natural gas industry. Morales offered no evidence to back his claim. Spokesman Alex Contreras said Morales would provide evidence, though he did not say when. The U.S. Embassy called Morales' charge "unfounded," saying in a statement: "We reiterate once more that we are supporting Bolivian democracy in a consistent way." |