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| Bolivia halts US anti-drugs work | Bolivia halts US anti-drugs work |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| President Evo Morales has announced he is suspending "indefinitely" the operations of the US Drug Enforcement Administration in Bolivia. | |
| Mr Morales accused the agency of having encouraged anti-government protests in the country in September. | |
| He did not say whether its staff would be asked to leave the country, as coca- growers have been pressing him to do. | He did not say whether its staff would be asked to leave the country, as coca- growers have been pressing him to do. |
| Bolivia's first indigenous president once served as the leader of the country's union of coca-growers. | Bolivia's first indigenous president once served as the leader of the country's union of coca-growers. |
| Coca is the raw material used in the production of cocaine and is widely grown in Bolivia. | Coca is the raw material used in the production of cocaine and is widely grown in Bolivia. |
| Relations between Bolivia and the US have been strained since Evo Morales took power in January 2006. | Relations between Bolivia and the US have been strained since Evo Morales took power in January 2006. |
| 'Defending Bolivia' | 'Defending Bolivia' |
| "From today all the activities of the US DEA are suspended indefinitely," the Bolivian leader said in the coca-growing region of Chimore, in the central province of Chapare. Coca is widely used by Bolivian Indians | "From today all the activities of the US DEA are suspended indefinitely," the Bolivian leader said in the coca-growing region of Chimore, in the central province of Chapare. Coca is widely used by Bolivian Indians |
| "Personnel from the DEA supported activities of the unsuccessful coup d'etat in Bolivia," he added, referring to the unrest in September which left 19 people dead. | "Personnel from the DEA supported activities of the unsuccessful coup d'etat in Bolivia," he added, referring to the unrest in September which left 19 people dead. |
| "We have the obligation to defend the dignity and sovereignty of the Bolivian people." | "We have the obligation to defend the dignity and sovereignty of the Bolivian people." |
| US officials have denied any wrongdoing. | US officials have denied any wrongdoing. |
| In recent months, a string of tit-for-tat expulsions of diplomats and agencies increased tensions between both countries, the BBC's Andres Schipani reports from Bolivia. | In recent months, a string of tit-for-tat expulsions of diplomats and agencies increased tensions between both countries, the BBC's Andres Schipani reports from Bolivia. |
| Bolivia's government expelled the US international development agency and the US ambassador to La Paz. | Bolivia's government expelled the US international development agency and the US ambassador to La Paz. |
| Washington retaliated by expelling its Bolivian counterpart, while last month President George W Bush himself put the Andean country on an anti-narcotics blacklist that cuts trade preferences. | Washington retaliated by expelling its Bolivian counterpart, while last month President George W Bush himself put the Andean country on an anti-narcotics blacklist that cuts trade preferences. |
| Making his announcement, Mr Morales also declared that his government had eradicated more than 5,000 hectares (12,300 acres) of illegally planted coca. | Making his announcement, Mr Morales also declared that his government had eradicated more than 5,000 hectares (12,300 acres) of illegally planted coca. |