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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Bolivia 'could close' US embassy after plane incident | Bolivia 'could close' US embassy after plane incident |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| President Evo Morales has threatened to close the US embassy in Bolivia after his official plane was banned from European airspace. | President Evo Morales has threatened to close the US embassy in Bolivia after his official plane was banned from European airspace. |
| The warning came as four other South American leaders offered him support at a special summit on Thursday. | The warning came as four other South American leaders offered him support at a special summit on Thursday. |
| His plane was forced to land in Austria on Tuesday after France, Portugal, Italy and Spain apparently barred it from flying through their airspace. | His plane was forced to land in Austria on Tuesday after France, Portugal, Italy and Spain apparently barred it from flying through their airspace. |
| There were unfounded suspicions that US fugitive Edward Snowden was on board. | There were unfounded suspicions that US fugitive Edward Snowden was on board. |
| The Bolivian president blamed Washington for pressurising European countries into refusing him passage. | The Bolivian president blamed Washington for pressurising European countries into refusing him passage. |
| "My hand would not shake to close the US embassy," Mr Morales said. | "My hand would not shake to close the US embassy," Mr Morales said. |
| "We have dignity, sovereignty. Without the United States, we are better politically and democratically." | "We have dignity, sovereignty. Without the United States, we are better politically and democratically." |
| 'No reason to apologise' | 'No reason to apologise' |
| 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. | 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. |
| 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. | 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. |
| 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 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. |
| The leaders issued a statement after the meeting demanding an explanation from France, Portugal, Italy and Spain over their actions. | The leaders issued a statement after the meeting demanding an explanation from France, Portugal, Italy and Spain over their actions. |
| The US was not mentioned in the statement, but several of the leaders criticised the Americans in comments after the meeting. | The US was not mentioned in the statement, but several of the leaders criticised the Americans in comments after the meeting. |
| "If this had happened to the president of the United States, it probably would have been grounds for war," said Ecuadorean President Rafael Correa. | "If this had happened to the president of the United States, it probably would have been grounds for war," said Ecuadorean President Rafael Correa. |
| "They think they can attack, crush, destroy international law." | "They think they can attack, crush, destroy international law." |
| Spanish Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Garcia-Margallo said in a TV interview on Friday that Madrid had "no reason to apologise". | |
| He said airspace was never closed to Mr Morales' plane, but that the delay in Austria meant the flight permit had expired and had to be renewed. | |
| He also said in reference to Mr Snowden: "They told us he was inside [the plane]." | |
| Mr Garcia-Margallo's comment is the first official recognition by the European states that the incident with Mr Morales' plane was connected with the Snowden affair. | |
| However, he did not say who had given the information to the Spanish authorities. | |
| France earlier apologised for the plane incident, blaming it on "conflicting information". | France earlier apologised for the plane incident, blaming it on "conflicting information". |
| The US state department has not commented directly on the latest claims, saying only that Washington had "been in touch with a broad range of countries" over the Snowden case. | |
| Demonstrators marched on the French embassy in La Paz on Wednesday, burning the French flag and demanding the expulsion of the ambassador to Bolivia. | Demonstrators marched on the French embassy in La Paz on Wednesday, burning the French flag and demanding the expulsion of the ambassador to Bolivia. |
| Mr Morales' plane took off from Vienna on Wednesday morning and arrived back in La Paz on Wednesday night. | Mr Morales' plane took off from Vienna on Wednesday morning and arrived back in La Paz on Wednesday night. |