US prepared to accept election of Bolivian coca leader Morales: envoy

0 Comments | AFP, July, 2005

LA PAZ (AFP) — A senior US official said that Washington was ready to accept any democratically elected leader in Bolivia, including the leftist leader of coca growers Evo Morales.

Charles Shapiro, the US State Department's assistant secretary for the Andes region, told reporters that the US would support whomever is elected to lead the strife-torn country in the December 4 elections, whether leftist or rightist.

"For us what is important is democracy," Shapiro said to a question about the possible election of Morales, whose leadership of the coca growers federation has drawn accusations from the US of involvement in drug trafficking.

"We are prepared to work with any government," he said.

As head of the Movement Toward Socialism, the country's...