Bolivia calls for punishment over Evo Morales plane incident
Bolivia 'could close' US embassy after plane incident
(about 11 hours later)
Bolivian Foreign Minister David Choquehuanca has called on those responsible for banning President Evo Morales's plane from European airspace on Tuesday to be punished.
President Evo Morales has threatened to close the US embassy in Bolivia after his official plane was banned from European airspace.
He said the issue will be discussed later at a South American summit.
The warning came as South America's leftist leaders offered him support at a special summit on Thursday.
The plane was forced to land in Austria after several European nations refused transit through their airspace.
His plane was forced to land in Austria on Tuesday after several European nations barred it from flying through their airspace.
There were unfounded suspicions that fugitive American intelligence analyst Edward Snowden was on board.
There were unfounded suspicions that US fugitive Edward Snowden was on board.
"We feel hurt, offended and outraged. This is an aggression against democracy and the peaceful coexistence of nations," Mr Choquehuanca told BBC Mundo.
The Bolivian president blamed Washington for pressurising European countries into refusing him passage.
Mr Morales was returning from a visit to Moscow in the presidential jet.
"My hand would not shake to close the US embassy," Agence France-Presse news agency quoted Mr Morales as saying.
Mr Snowden is believed to be holed up at the transit area of the airport - and to have been there since he fled Hong Kong.
"We have dignity, sovereignty. Without the United States, we are better politically, democratically."
France has apologised for the incident, blaming it on "conflicting information".
'Conflicting information'
French President Francois Hollande said he granted permission as soon as he knew it was Mr Morales' plane.
His presidential jet was rerouted as he travelled from a meeting in Russia where he had suggested he would be willing to consider an asylum application from Mr Snowden.
"Statements are not enough. We expect those responsible for these unacceptable, offensive and abusive actions to be identified and punished," said Mr Choquehuanca.
The former CIA contractor is believed to be holed up at the transit area of Moscow airport after leaking details of a vast US surveillance programme.
A meeting of the Unasur regional groups is due to take place in the Bolivian city of Cochabamba later on Thursday.
Mr Morales was joined by the presidents of Argentina, Uruguay, Ecuador, Venezuela and Suriname at a meeting to discuss the plane dispute in the Bolivian city of Cochabamba on Thursday.
Mr Morales will be joined by the presidents of Argentina, Uruguay, Ecuador, Venezuela, Suriname and representatives of other South American countries.
Ecuadorean President Rafael Correa he and the other leaders were offering full "support" to Mr Morales while Argentine President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner called for an apology.
'Neo-colonial attitude'
"I'm asking those who violated the law in calm but serious manner, to take responsibility for the errors made, it's the least they can do," the Associated Press quoted her as saying.
Mr Choquehuanca described the incident as an act of aggression by European countries which exhibited what he called neo-colonial attitudes.
France has apologised for the plane incident, blaming it on "conflicting information".
"There was a violation of international treaties and the Vienna Convention, as well as of our president's human rights."
Demonstrators marched on the French embassy in La Paz on Wednesday, burning the French flag and demanding the expulsion of the ambassador to Bolivia.
"European countries must explain why they continue with a neo-colonial attitude in the 21st Century," Mr Choquehuanca told the BBC.
Mr Morales' plane took off from Vienna on Wednesday morning and arrived back in La Paz on Wednesday night.
The episode sparked angry reactions from heads of state across Latin America.
Demonstrators marched on the French embassy in La Paz, burning the French flag and demanding the expulsion of the ambassador to Bolivia.
Austrian officials said the airport authorities had searched the plane, but with Mr Morales' permission.
But the Bolivian government denied any search had taken place.
The plane took off from Vienna on Wednesday morning and it arrived back in La Paz on Wednesday night.
President Morales was received at the airport by a huge crowd.
"I feel they have begun provocative action against our continent. But we will never be intimidated. They will not scare us," Mr Morales said in a speech at the airport.
Security analyst Edward Snowden has requested asylum to many countries.
Foreign Minister David Choquehuanca confirmed that Bolivia is considering a request from Mr Snowden.
"We are analysing this. But US intelligence is failing. They probably believe he is now on Bolivian territory," said Mr Choquehuanca.
