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| Bolivia crisis: Jeanine Áñez declares herself interim president | Bolivia crisis: Jeanine Áñez declares herself interim president |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Bolivian opposition senator Jeanine Áñez has declared herself interim president of the South American country following Evo Morales' resignation. | Bolivian opposition senator Jeanine Áñez has declared herself interim president of the South American country following Evo Morales' resignation. |
| Lawmakers from Mr Morales' party boycotted the session, meaning there was no quorum for the appointment. | Lawmakers from Mr Morales' party boycotted the session, meaning there was no quorum for the appointment. |
| But Ms Áñez said she was next in line under the constitution and vowed to hold elections soon. | But Ms Áñez said she was next in line under the constitution and vowed to hold elections soon. |
| Mr Morales condemned the announcement, describing Ms Áñez as "a coup-mongering right-wing senator". | Mr Morales condemned the announcement, describing Ms Áñez as "a coup-mongering right-wing senator". |
| The former president has fled to Mexico, saying he asked for asylum there because his life was in danger. | The former president has fled to Mexico, saying he asked for asylum there because his life was in danger. |
| He resigned on Sunday after weeks of protests over a disputed presidential election result. He has said he had been forced to stand down but had done so willingly "so there would be no more bloodshed". | |
| How did the senator become interim president? | How did the senator become interim president? |
| Ms Áñez took temporary control of the Senate on Tuesday, putting her next in line for the presidency. | Ms Áñez took temporary control of the Senate on Tuesday, putting her next in line for the presidency. |
| The former deputy Senate leader assumed the position following a series of resignations. | The former deputy Senate leader assumed the position following a series of resignations. |
| The parliamentary session to appoint her was boycotted by lawmakers from Mr Morales' leftist Movement for Socialism party, who said it was illegitimate. | |
| "Before the definitive absence of the president and vice president... as the president of the Chamber of Senators, I immediately assume the presidency as foreseen in the constitutional order," Ms Áñez said to applause from opposition lawmakers. | |
| Bolivia's highest constitutional court backed her assumption of power. | |
| Taking to Twitter from Mexico, Mr Morales condemned the "sneakiest, most nefarious coup in history". | |
| How did we get here? | How did we get here? |
| 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 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. | He 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. |
| Pressure had been growing on him since his narrow victory in last month's vote. | Pressure had been growing on him since his narrow victory in last month's vote. |
| 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 fled to Mexico as unrest erupted on the streets of the Bolivian administrative capital, La Paz, with angry supporters of the socialist leader clashing with security forces. | He fled to Mexico as unrest erupted on the streets of the Bolivian administrative capital, La Paz, with angry supporters of the socialist leader clashing with security forces. |
| After arriving in Mexico City on Tuesday, he thanked Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, whom he credited with saving his life. | After arriving in Mexico City on Tuesday, he thanked 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 said. | "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 said. |