Morales accuses US of inciting marchers
August 21, 2011 - Miami Herald (AP)

 
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
LA PAZ, Bolivia -- Bolivian President Evo Morales is accusing the United States of inciting a march by indigenous protesters against a Brazilian-financed highway his government is intent on building through an Amazon nature preserve.

Morales says his government isn't ruling out expelling the U.S. Agency for International Development.

It's not the first time Bolivia's leftist leader has threatened to expel USAID.

His critics say he's using the U.S. agency as a scapegoat for trying to explain away opposition from indigenous groups in Bolivia's eastern lowlands to development projects and oil and gas exploration.

Bolivia expelled the U.S. ambassador and U.S. drug agents in late 2008, accusing them of aiding his opponents.