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Bolivia crisis: Evo Morales says he fled to Mexico as life was at risk | Bolivia crisis: Evo Morales says he fled to Mexico as life was at risk |
(about 1 hour later) | |
Former Bolivian President Evo Morales has arrived in Mexico City saying he asked for asylum because his life was in danger. | Former Bolivian President Evo Morales has arrived in Mexico City saying he asked for asylum because his life was in danger. |
Mr Morales resigned on Sunday after weeks of protests over a disputed presidential election result. | Mr Morales resigned on Sunday after weeks of protests over a disputed presidential election result. |
The Mexican jet carrying him landed at an airport in Mexico City, where he gave a brief news conference. | The Mexican jet carrying him landed at an airport in Mexico City, where he gave a brief news conference. |
Mr Morales said he was forced to stand down but did so willingly "so there would be no more bloodshed". | Mr Morales said he was forced to stand down but did so willingly "so there would be no more bloodshed". |
He said a price of $50,000 (£38,000) had been put on his head by "coup plotters". | |
The left-wing leader said he and the Bolivian government were "very grateful" to Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, whom he credited with saving his life. | The left-wing leader said he and the Bolivian government were "very grateful" to Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, whom he credited with saving his life. |
"While I have life I'll stay in politics, the fight continues. All the people of the world have the right to free themselves from discrimination and humiliation," he added. | "While I have life I'll stay in politics, the fight continues. All the people of the world have the right to free themselves from discrimination and humiliation," he added. |
Mexican Foreign Minister Marcelo Ebrard said Mr Morales had arrived "safely" in the country, tweeting a picture of the jet that carried him. | Mexican Foreign Minister Marcelo Ebrard said Mr Morales had arrived "safely" in the country, tweeting a picture of the jet that carried him. |
Mr Morales, a former coca farmer, was first elected in 2006, the country's first leader from the indigenous community. | Mr Morales, a former coca farmer, was first elected in 2006, the country's first leader from the indigenous community. |
He has won plaudits for fighting poverty and improving Bolivia's economy but drew controversy by defying constitutional limits to run for a fourth term in October's election. The poll is alleged to have been rife with irregularities. | He has won plaudits for fighting poverty and improving Bolivia's economy but drew controversy by defying constitutional limits to run for a fourth term in October's election. The poll is alleged to have been rife with irregularities. |
Flight 'Plan B' | Flight 'Plan B' |
Smiling and raising his fist in the air, Mr Morales appeared relaxed as he exited the plane at Mexico City's international airport at around 11:15 local time (17:10 GMT). | Smiling and raising his fist in the air, Mr Morales appeared relaxed as he exited the plane at Mexico City's international airport at around 11:15 local time (17:10 GMT). |
But Mr Morales's upbeat demeanour belied the difficulties of his journey to Mexico from the Bolivian city of Cochabamba, where he had sought refuge. | But Mr Morales's upbeat demeanour belied the difficulties of his journey to Mexico from the Bolivian city of Cochabamba, where he had sought refuge. |
The Mexican Air Force jet sent to pick up Mr Morales first stopped off in Peru, where it refuelled and waited for permission to enter Bolivian airspace. | The Mexican Air Force jet sent to pick up Mr Morales first stopped off in Peru, where it refuelled and waited for permission to enter Bolivian airspace. |
Once on the ground in Bolivia, however, Peru told the plane that "for political reasons" it would not be allowed fly back to the country to refuel. | Once on the ground in Bolivia, however, Peru told the plane that "for political reasons" it would not be allowed fly back to the country to refuel. |
This is when the Mexican government had to come up with a plan B, Mexico's foreign minister said. | This is when the Mexican government had to come up with a plan B, Mexico's foreign minister said. |
"That was very difficult and very tense, because there was a complicated situation at the airport where Evo Morales was waiting," Mr Ebrard said. | "That was very difficult and very tense, because there was a complicated situation at the airport where Evo Morales was waiting," Mr Ebrard said. |
After negotiations with several countries in the region, the plane was granted permission to refuel in Paraguay before it flew to Mexico via Brazil and Peru. | After negotiations with several countries in the region, the plane was granted permission to refuel in Paraguay before it flew to Mexico via Brazil and Peru. |
What's the latest in Bolivia? | What's the latest in Bolivia? |
The deputy head of the Senate, Jeanine Áñez, has declared herself interim president by right of succession despite a boycott by Mr Morales' party. | The deputy head of the Senate, Jeanine Áñez, has declared herself interim president by right of succession despite a boycott by Mr Morales' party. |
She promised to bring peace to the country and hold elections as soon as possible. | She promised to bring peace to the country and hold elections as soon as possible. |
As Mr Morales prepared to leave for Mexico, unrest again erupted on the streets of the Bolivian administrative capital, La Paz, with angry supporters of the socialist leader clashing with security forces. | As Mr Morales prepared to leave for Mexico, unrest again erupted on the streets of the Bolivian administrative capital, La Paz, with angry supporters of the socialist leader clashing with security forces. |
Bolivia's military commander ordered troops to support the police, who urged residents to stay indoors in a bid to quell the violence. | Bolivia's military commander ordered troops to support the police, who urged residents to stay indoors in a bid to quell the violence. |
On Tuesday, Bolivia's main federation of unions warned it would hold an indefinite strike if the country's leaders did not restore constitutional order and peace within 24 hours. | On Tuesday, Bolivia's main federation of unions warned it would hold an indefinite strike if the country's leaders did not restore constitutional order and peace within 24 hours. |
How did we get here? | How did we get here? |
Pressure had been growing on Mr Morales since his narrow victory in last month's presidential election. | Pressure had been growing on Mr Morales since his narrow victory in last month's presidential election. |
The result was called into question by the Organization of American States, a regional body, which had found "clear manipulation" and called for the result to be annulled. | The result was called into question by the Organization of American States, a regional body, which had found "clear manipulation" and called for the result to be annulled. |
In response, Mr Morales agreed to hold fresh elections. But his main rival, Carlos Mesa - who came second in the vote - said Mr Morales should not stand in any new vote. | In response, Mr Morales agreed to hold fresh elections. But his main rival, Carlos Mesa - who came second in the vote - said Mr Morales should not stand in any new vote. |
The chief of the armed forces, Gen Williams Kaliman, then urged Mr Morales to step down in the interests of peace and stability. | The chief of the armed forces, Gen Williams Kaliman, then urged Mr Morales to step down in the interests of peace and stability. |
Announcing his resignation, Mr Morales said he had taken the decision in order to stop fellow socialist leaders from being "harassed, persecuted and threatened". He also called his removal a "coup". | Announcing his resignation, Mr Morales said he had taken the decision in order to stop fellow socialist leaders from being "harassed, persecuted and threatened". He also called his removal a "coup". |