Bolivia warns it may shut down U.S. embassy

COCHABAMBA Bolivian President Evo Morales has warned he could close the U.S. embassy in his country, after the incident with his plane that was grounded in Vienna. Morales made the statement during a meeting of "leftist South American leaders," convened after his plane was forced to land in Vienna and spent 13 hours there earlier this week. Bolivia warns it may shut down U.S. embassy The reason was the alleged suspicion that whistleblower Edward Snowden was on board the plane. The former CIA employee and NSA contractor is wanted by America for disclosing information about the country's massive internet surveillance program and other spying activities. The meeting was held in Cochabamba, Bolivia, and gathered the leaders of Venezuela, Ecuador, Argentina and Uruguay, who discussed this diplomatic incident. Morales reiterated accusations that Washington was to blame because a number of European countries on Tuesday denied him permission to fly over their territory, as he was headed home from Moscow. He called this a violation of international law. A joint statement issued after the summit asked for a clarification and apology from France, Italy, Portugal and Spain. The leaders also said they would support a formal complaint of Bolivia addressed to the UN Commission on Human Rights. The Latin American leaders said they were outraged over the incident, adding that it was a violation of national sovereignty and that it represented a slap in the face to their part of the world, which was in the past subjected to humiliation by Europe, and several military coups supported by the United States. "United we will defeat American imperialism. We met with the leaders of my party and they asked us for several measures and if necessary, we will close the embassy of the United States,​​" said Morales in the city where he began his political career as the leader of farmers. "We do not need the U.S. embassy," he said. Ecuador's President Rafael Correa stated that he fully supported Morales and called the incident an aggression against the South American country. "We will not allow that in the 21st century there should be first, second and third rate countries," Correa said. Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro protested because Spanish officials attempted to search the plane of the Bolivian president. President of Argentina Cristina Fernandez said that Latin Americans value freedom after fighting for independence from Europe in the 19th century, and after the repressive regimes that Washington supported in the 20th century. She asked for an apology for the incident with the plane. Brazil was represented at the summit by President Dilma Rousseff's Chief Counsel for International Affairs Marco Aurelio Garcia, while presidents of Colombia, Chile and Peru, which have strong ties with the United States, were absent. (Beta/AP) Beta

Bolivia warns it may shut down U.S. embassy

The reason was the alleged suspicion that whistleblower Edward Snowden was on board the plane. The former CIA employee and NSA contractor is wanted by America for disclosing information about the country's massive internet surveillance program and other spying activities.

The meeting was held in Cochabamba, Bolivia, and gathered the leaders of Venezuela, Ecuador, Argentina and Uruguay, who discussed this diplomatic incident.

Morales reiterated accusations that Washington was to blame because a number of European countries on Tuesday denied him permission to fly over their territory, as he was headed home from Moscow. He called this a violation of international law.

A joint statement issued after the summit asked for a clarification and apology from France, Italy, Portugal and Spain. The leaders also said they would support a formal complaint of Bolivia addressed to the UN Commission on Human Rights.

The Latin American leaders said they were outraged over the incident, adding that it was a violation of national sovereignty and that it represented a slap in the face to their part of the world, which was in the past subjected to humiliation by Europe, and several military coups supported by the United States.

"United we will defeat American imperialism. We met with the leaders of my party and they asked us for several measures and if necessary, we will close the embassy of the United States,​​" said Morales in the city where he began his political career as the leader of farmers. "We do not need the U.S. embassy," he said.

Ecuador's President Rafael Correa stated that he fully supported Morales and called the incident an aggression against the South American country. "We will not allow that in the 21st century there should be first, second and third rate countries," Correa said.

Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro protested because Spanish officials attempted to search the plane of the Bolivian president.

President of Argentina Cristina Fernandez said that Latin Americans value freedom after fighting for independence from Europe in the 19th century, and after the repressive regimes that Washington supported in the 20th century. She asked for an apology for the incident with the plane.

Brazil was represented at the summit by President Dilma Rousseff's Chief Counsel for International Affairs Marco Aurelio Garcia, while presidents of Colombia, Chile and Peru, which have strong ties with the United States, were absent.