Bolivia crisis: Ex-President Morales offered asylum in Mexico

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Mexico has offered asylum to former Bolivian president Evo Morales, a day after his resignation following weeks of protest over a disputed election.

Mexico says the decision was taken for “humanitarian reasons” after a request from Mr Morales.

Mr Morales has not yet commented. He earlier urged his supporters to resist the “dark powers” that had forced him to step down.

At least 20 people were reported injured in clashes on Monday.

Morales supporters battled police in La Paz, Bolivia’s biggest city, and also in El Alto.

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Mr Morales, Bolivia’s first indigenous leader, stepped down after the head of the army publicly called on him to leave his post.

The deputy head of the Senate said she would take over as interim president until new elections were held.

Mr Morales, a former coca farmer, was first elected in 2006. He has won plaudits for fighting poverty and improving Bolivia’s economy but drew controversy by defying constitutional term limits to run for a fourth term in October’s election, which is alleged to have been rife with irregularities.

What did Mexico say?

At Monday’s news conference, Mexican Foreign Minister Marcelo Ebrard said: “Several minutes ago I received a phone call from (former) president Evo Morales to verbally and formally request political asylum in our country.”

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AFP

“Interior Minister Olga Sánchez Cordero made the decision to grant him asylum.”

Mexico has a left-leaning government and has supported Mr Morales.

Mr Ebrard earlier described events in Bolivia as a “coup”, citing the military’s involvement in Mr Morales’ resignation.

Why did he quit?

Pressure had been growing on Mr Morales since his narrow victory in last month’s presidential election.

On Sunday, events moved swiftly. First, the Organization of American States (OAS), a regional body, announced that its audit of the election 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.

But what really seemed to tip the balance was the intervention of the chief of the armed forces, General Williams Kaliman, who urged Mr Morales to step down in the interests of peace and stability.

Announcing his resignation, Mr Morales said that he had taken the decision in order to stop fellow socialist leaders from being “harassed, persecuted and threatened”. He also called his removal a “coup”.

Reports say Mr Morales made the announcement of his resignation from El Chapare, a coca-growing rural area of Cochabamba and a bastion of support for him and his Mas party.