Latin American allies of Morales slam ‘coup’ in Bolivia

Latin America’s leftist governments and prominent politicians have denounced an opposition-led “coup d’état” in Bolivia against the government of Evo Morales, who was forced to step down as president under pressure from the army amid violent post-election protests.

According to Press TV, Morales — Latin America’s longest-serving president — was declared the winner of Bolivia’s October 20 presidential election.

The opposition, however, rejected the outcome and said there had been fraud in the election process. That sparked violent street protests, which left three people dead and hundreds more wounded, in what the Morales government called a coup bid.

Following an audit, the Organization of American States, which monitored the election process, said in a report on Sunday that it had found evidence of irregularities on a wide scale in the vote.

Reacting positively to the report, Morales initially called for “new national elections, which, by voting, allow the Bolivian people to democratically elect new authorities.”

Later in the day, however, and following calls by senior army and police authorities for the Bolivian leader to quit, the 60-year-old announced he was stepping down.

Morales and his aides left La Paz for Chimoré, in the state of Cochabamba. "It was unclear whether Mr. Morales intended to leave Bolivia or stay in that area, which is home to coca leaf growers and has been a stronghold of support," wrote the New York Times.

In a Twitter post after stepping down, Morales said an “illegal” arrest warrant had been issued against him, and that his home had come under attack by “violent groups.”

“Putschists are destroying the rule of law,” Morales wrote.

Police, however, rejected the claim and said there was no warrant for the arrest of Morales.

Latin America reacts

Morales’ shock resignation has drawn condemnations from Latin America’s leftist governments and prominent politicians, many of whom echoed Morales and branded the developments in Bolivia as a “coup d’état.”

Venezuela’s President Nicolas Maduro has called for a mobilization of political and social movements “to demand the preservation of the life of the Bolivian native peoples, victims of racism.”

As Morales resigned, a group of hooded protesters in the capital, Sucre, overran the embassy of Venezuela, a strong ally of the Morales administration.

“Hooded persons with dynamite and shields have taken over the Venezuelan embassy in Bolivia. We are OK and safe, but they want to commit a massacre against us,” Ambassador Crisbeylee Gonzalez told the state news agency ABI.

“Help us report this barbarity,” ABI quoted her as saying.

Meanwhile, Cuba’s Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez has described Morales as “a protagonist and a symbol of the rights of the indigenous peoples of our Americas.”

Furthermore, Brazilian politician and ex-President, Lula da Silva, has said “my friend Morales” was removed in a coup, evidence of “an economic elite in Latin America that did not know how to share democracy with poor people.”

Argentina’s President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner has also said a coup was carried out “by the joint actions of violent civilians, police personnel who confined themselves to their barracks, and the passivity of the army.”

In a show of support for Maduro, Mexican Foreign Minister Marcelo Ebrard said on Sunday that the country would offer asylum to outgoing Bolivian President Evo Morales if he sought it.

In turn, the Nicaraguan government on Sunday issued a statement “strongly condemning” the “coup” against Morales

“We express our rejection and repudiation of fascist practices that ignore the constitution, laws and institutionalism that govern the democratic life of nations," the statement said.

ME