U.S. asks envoy to Bolivia to come home to consult

Source: Reuters

U.S. asks envoy to Bolivia to come home to consult
Mon Jun 16, 2008 6:59pm EDT

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The United States has asked its envoy to Bolivia to return home after violent protests a week ago at the U.S. Embassy in La Paz, and warned Bolivia to meet its obligations to protect diplomats, the State Department said on Monday.

Ambassador Philip S. Goldberg "will return to Washington for consultations on embassy security" after the protests June 9, State Department spokesman Gonzalo Gallegos said in a statement.

Thousands of rock-throwing supporters of leftist Bolivian President Evo Morales protested outside the embassy, demanding the United States send home two right-wing Bolivian politicians.

Hundreds of police in riot gear struggled to keep the demonstrators away from the fortress-like embassy and ended up firing tear gas to disperse them.

Gallegos said that the United States appreciated the efforts of the Bolivian police, but was concerned by statements of some Bolivian government officials that "cast doubt" on Bolivia's commitment to fulfill international conventions on protecting diplomats and their facilities.



Read more: http://www.reuters.com/article/politicsNews/idUSN1627216320080616?rpc=401&

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U.S envoy in Bolivia to return home for security discussion
www.chinaview.cn 2008-06-17 06:47:20

WASHINGTON, June 16 (Xinhua) -- U.S. Ambassador to Bolivia Philip S. Goldberg will return home for security discussion, State Department spokesman Gonzalo Gallegos said Monday.

"U.S. Ambassador to Bolivia Philip S. Goldberg will return to Washington for consultations on embassy security in the wake of violent protests in La Paz on Monday June 9," Gallegos told reporters.

"The ambassador's consultations will provide an opportunity to explore measures to enhance security cooperation with the government of Bolivia," said a statement attributed to Gallegos.

Early last week, thousands of Bolivians reportedly surrounded the U.S. embassy in La Paz with many of them shooting fireworks at the U.S. flag flying in front of the embassy building.

The protest came after former Bolivian Defense Minister Sanchez Berzain, who was accused of genocide, told the press last week that a U.S. court had granted him political asylum.

More:
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2008-06/17/content_8382439.htm