LatinNews Daily - 19 May 2011

Bolivia: President Evo Morales accused US ambassador to Bolivia, Philip Goldberg, of leading a conspiracy against his government and its new constitution. Morales accused Goldberg of acting as a politician, rather than as a "diplomat". He said that the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) had provided finance and support to the local political opposition. Morales claimed that the US is promoting a "campaign" against his government because the new constitution does not allow any country to establish a military base in Bolivia, least of all the US. Morales' accusations against Goldberg follow his decision to cancel his trip to the US, where he was due to meet ex US President Jimmy Carter and give various talks. He called off the trip in order to lead efforts to deal with flood crisis, which has left 61 people dead and 73,000 families homeless.