Bolivian President Morales Accuses US of Terrorism at UN

Bolivian President Evo Morales has accused the US of backing opponents trying to destabilize his government with “acts of terrorism.”

In an address to the United Nations assembly in New York on Tuesday, Bolivia's first indigenous president referred to what he called a permanent conspiracy among pro-autonomy, largely white groups in Bolivia's wealthy eastern areas.

"I would like to hear representatives of the U.S. government rejecting these acts of terrorism ... But you know, they are allies, of course they will never condemn this,” he said.

Earlier this month anti-Morales protesters from Bolivia's resource-rich "half-moon" states provoked clashes during which 18 people were killed.

Anti-Morales protesters have also caused disruption by setting up roadblocks, attacking police, abducting federal employees, seizing airports and taking over state-run television stations and community radio stations.

Anti-government elements have also targeted pipelines transporting natural gas to countries such as Brazil. One of Morales' key proposals is to nationalize windfall profits from Bolivia's natural gas industry.

Morales told the UN assembly that wealthier states oppose plans to redistribute wealth amongst the people of Latin America's poorest country.

Latin American nations and Europe have supported the Bolivian government, but Morales condemned the US for not responding to the situation.

Morales told the gathering of world leaders that he believed the US works to undermine nations that reject the capitalist model.

In response to growing unrest, Bolivia expelled the US ambassador to La Paz last month. President Morales revealed that US Ambassador Phillip Goldberg had held meetings with secessionist leaders and alleged that the US Embassy had asked Peace Corps volunteers and a Fulbright scholar to act as spies.

In past years, the US Congress-funded National Endowment for Democracy and the US Agency for International Development (USAID) organizations have supported right-wing movements in Bolivia.