Morales announces expulsion of US agency for conspiracy against Bolivians

Bolivian President Evo Morales says he will expel the US Agency for International Development (USAID) from the country, accusing the agency of seeking to "conspire against" the Bolivian people and government.

Morales made the announcement on Wednesday at a rally in La Paz to celebrate May Day, AFP reported. Morales had in the past threatened USAID with expulsion, saying that its programs have political rather than social objectives.

The leftist president pointed out that there was "no lack of US institutions which continue to conspire against our people and especially the national government, which is why we're going to take the opportunity to announce on this May Day that we've decided to expel USAID. No more USAID, which manipulates and uses our leaders," he added.

PressTV

Bolivian president blames 'imperialists' for death of Chaves

Bolivian President Evo Morales is blaming "imperialists" for the death of Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez. Morales said Tuesday that "if they can't achieve their goal democratically or with a putsch ... then they're trying different methods — that is ending someone's life."

Chavez's death last week from cancer has spawned conspiracy theories about his demise. Morales called for an investigation, telling reporters that Chavez was "only 58 years old and he died so quickly." He says that "sooner or later it will be proven that there was an attempt on his life. Because it is always like that when presidents or union leaders open their mouth to demand their rights."

The Montreal Gazette

Bolivian road protest threatens to flatten Evo Morales's popularity

He came to office vowing to be a standard bearer for the dispossessed and excluded of one of South America's poorest nations. "The people are finally in power," Bolivia's first indigenous president, Evo Morales, declared after his historic 2005 election victory.

But, nearly six years on, much of that hope has turned to recrimination as one-time supporters question Morales's true commitment and fears grow that social and environmental issues are taking a back seat to economic growth.

This week, more than 1,000 protesters are expected to arrive in Bolivia's main city, La Paz, to rally against plans for a controversial Amazon road through indigenous lands and voice concern that Morales, an Aymara Indian, is turning his back on the indigenous cause.

"Although Evo is of indigenous descent and was a peasant, he has not been willing to come to [meet us on] the march despite the fact we have been marching for more than 50 days," Rodolfo Lopez, one of the protest's leaders, said.

The Guardian