Bolivian leader tells regional defense chiefs about plot against him

Bolivian President Evo Morales on Monday reiterated charges that the United States planned to overthrow him in 2008. Taking advantage of Defense Secretary Robert Gates' presence in Santa Cruz along with other regional defense chiefs, Morales resuscitated allegations that then-US Ambassador to Bolivia Philip Goldberg tried to drum up the opposition to remove him from power.

"We must recognize that the United States won in Honduras," Morales said, referring to the June 2009 coup that overthrew leftist President Manuel Zelaya. "The American imperialists won but the American people in Venezuela, Bolivia and Ecuador have also won."

Morales spoke at the opening of a conference of regional defense ministers. Without addressing Gates by name, Morales also defended his country's decisions to form alliances with countries such as Iran.

On Sunday, Gates told a news conference that while the Andean country was free to form whatever alliances it wished, "I think Bolivia needs to be mindful of the number of United Nations Security Council resolutions that have been passed with respect to Iran's behavior."

On Monday, the Pentagon chief delivered an address before the defense forum but did not mention Morales' earlier comments. The United States has expressed concerned about the alliances formed between Venezuela, Bolivia and Iran.

Morales charged that the US government uses excuses such as drug trafficking and terrorism to intervene in Latin America. He said that after he discovered Goldberg was plotting against his government, "I had the presumption that this was going to happen around the world."

Morales expelled Goldberg which led to the expulsion of the Bolivian ambassador in Washington. In a statement, the US Embassy in La Paz said it "lamented" the way Morales had addressed the meeting.

Corruption claim

In a separate development, prosecutors asked the Bolivian Supreme Court to open a trial against the opposition governor of Beni province who is facing a corruption complaint. Governor Ernesto Suárez claims that he is the victim of political persecution by the Morales government. A complaint was filed against him in June for irregularities, including influence peddling and fraud, concerning the construction of a highway.

"I am the victim of political persecution that the government is waging against me because I never signed that [highway] contract. I was out of the country," Suárez said. "I think this all comes from the pressure the prosecutor's office is getting from the government."