Morales in 'new liberation' plea

[Judi Lynn]

Page last updated at 22:36 GMT, Friday, 22 May 2009 23:36 UK
Morales in 'new liberation' plea

President Evo Morales has begun marking the 200th anniversary of Bolivia's independence struggle, hailing Latin America's "second liberation".

His comments, in a small town high in the Andes mountains, referred to left-wing poll victories across the region.

Mr Morales, Bolivia's first indigenous leader, said the Spanish colonisers had tried to exterminate the Indians and extract the continent's wealth.

He vowed that Latin America would not return to a past of exploitation.

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Mr Morales said the indigenous population in countries like Bolivia had fought back against the colonisers and their struggle was still going on.

He said victories of left-wing governments across Latin America meant the region would not return to exploitation.

More:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/8064725.stm