Bolivia expels US agency for undermining government

President Evo Morales makes announcement to crowd outside presidential palace during International Workers' Day rally
Bolivia's President Evo Morales speaks during May Day celebrations at Murillo square in La Paz
Bolivia's president, Evo Morales, speaks during May Day celebrations at Murillo Square in La Paz. Photograph: David Mercado/REUTERS

The Bolivian president, Evo Morales, has said he is expelling the US Agency for International Development (USAid) from Bolivia for allegedly seeking to undermine his government.

Morales did not specify what USAid had done that merited expulsion on Wednesday. In the recent past, he has accused it of funding groups that have opposed his policies, specifically a lowlands indigenous federation that protested against a highway through a rainforest preserve.

In 2008, Morales expelled the US ambassador and agents of the US Drug Enforcement Administration for allegedly inciting the opposition.

He made the announcement outside the presidential palace to an International Workers' Day rally – an occasion he has used since taking office in 2006 for major announcements.

He said he was protesting at a recent statement by the US secretary of state, John Kerry, that Latin America was the backyard of the US.

"The United States does not lack institutions that continue to conspire, and that's why I am using this gathering to announce that we have decided to expel USAid from Bolivia," Morales said, turning to his foreign minister, David Choquehuanca, and ordering him to inform the US embassy.

Today's best video

Today in pictures