CARACAS, Thursday November 24, 2005 | Update
Political, business and trade union leaders condemned Thursday
"meddling" by Venezuelan chargé d'affaires Azael Valero,
who criticized presidential candidate Jorge Quiroga and supported
Evo Morales, AP reported.
Even Morales' own political party viewed as Valero's remarks
as unacceptable and refused any foreign interference.
"For the fourth time, President Hugo Chávez meddles
into Bolivian domestic affairs," Quiroga regretted.
"We have always refused any interference from any embassy;
we have always criticized meddling by the US embassy. Accordingly,
we do reject interference by the Venezuelan chargé d'affaires,"
Álvaro García Linera, candidate running for Vice-President
under Morales' party, said.
"We will ensure defense of sovereignty against any interventionist
move from any foreign country;" García Linera stated
during a press conference. The day before, Valero had labeled
Jorge Quiroga as a messenger of multinationals.
04:20 PM. Western Hemisphere. Colombian President Álvaro Uribe said on Tuesday that governments should ensure citizens' rights to live on the border, in reference to a political and diplomatic crisis with Venezuela and its effects on border residents.