Morales: U.S. using drug policies to militarise region

reuters: Evo Morales, who won Bolivia's presidential election [and] vows to end a U.S. campaign against coca growing, stepped up his criticism of American anti-drug policies on Monday, accusing Washington of using drug fighting efforts to militarise the region.

In his first news conference since claiming victory on Sunday Morales -- who took a surprisingly strong majority and will be Bolivia's first Indian leader -- insisted he was opposed to drugs but disputed Washington's methods.

"The fight against drug trafficking is a false pretext for the United States to install military bases and we're not in agreement," he told reporters.

"We support an effective fight against drugs. Neither cocaine or drug trafficking are part of the Bolivian culture," he said in his stronghold of Cochabamba as the first official results from Sunday's vote trickled in. Read more