Trump backs Bolivia's interim leader amid unrest

By Beyza Binnur Donmez

ANKARA (AA) - U.S. President Donald Trump threw his support behind Bolivia's interim government amid an ongoing political crisis in the South American country.

"We support @JeanineAnez in Bolivia as she works to ensure a peaceful democratic transition through free elections," Trump said in a Twitter message on Tuesday.

"We denounce the ongoing violence and those that provoke it both in Bolivia and from afar," he said. "The U.S. stands with the people of the region for peace and democracy!"

His remarks came hours after former Bolivian President Evo Morales said that he has the right to do politics in his country and accused the interim government of carrying out a "coup" against his administration with foreign agents.

The former leader was speaking at a press conference in Argentina, where he landed last week after being granted asylum.

This is the second time this year that Washington backed a self-proclaimed interim president in a Latin American country, after Venezuela's opposition leader Juan Guaido.

Turmoil in Bolivia began in October, when Morales won a fourth term in office and faced immediate resistance from opposition parties that challenged election results.

Protesters took to the streets claiming the ballot was rigged.

After weeks of upheaval, Morales resigned under pressure from the military and moved to Mexico, where he was offered his first political asylum.

Conservative Senator Anez then proclaimed herself interim president.

But public demonstrations have yet to subside, with mostly rural and indigenous pro-Morales supporters taking to the streets, including in La Paz, as well as Sacaba and Cochabamba, since he left the country saying his ouster was a coup.

While a new presidential election was set for March 2020, the Anez government threatens Morales with a prison sentence if he is to return to the country.