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Bolivia crisis: Interim leader appoints first US envoy in 11 years
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Parts
of Bolivia have been crippled by violent clashes since Evo Morales' resignation
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The
new ambassador, Walter Oscar Serrate Cuellar, used to be the country's
representative to the UN.
Mr
Morales, a socialist who led Bolivia for almost 14 years and was its first
indigenous president, resigned on 10 November and fled to Mexico.
He
stepped down after a disputed presidential election last month.
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What's next for Bolivia?
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Evo Morales' turbulent run
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Conflict fills political vacuum
after Morales
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Why protesters are on the
streets worldwide
The
election result sparked weeks of protests, culminating in Mr Morales'
resignation. He says he was the victim of a right-wing coup.
Since
he resigned, parts of the country have been crippled by violent protests. At
least 29 people have been killed in clashes between security forces and
protesters, Reuters reported.
During
Mr Morales' time in power, the country's relationship with the US was tense. In
2008, under former US President George W Bush, ambassadors from both countries
were expelled during a diplomatic spat.
What's changing in Bolivia?
Right-wing
senator Jeanine Áñez declared herself interim president shortly after Mr
Morales' resignation, and was formally recognised by the US.
Almost
straightaway, she began reversing the socialist ex-leader's policies.
She broke diplomatic
ties with the socialist governments of Cuba and Venezuela, which were
previously two of Bolivia's closest allies in the region.
Ms
Áñez also formally recognised Venezuela's opposition leader Juan Guaidó as the
country's president, rather than President Nicolás Maduro.
All
of Bolivia's ambassadors were dismissed, except for those to the Vatican and
Peru.
What happened to Evo Morales?
Mr
Morales, who was the country's first leader from the indigenous community,
declared victory in the 20 October election.
But
opposition groups said the results were rigged. The outcome was also called
into question by the Organization of American States, a regional body, which
had found "clear manipulation" and called for the result to be
annulled.
In
response, Mr Morales agreed to hold fresh elections. But his main rival, Carlos
Mesa - who came second in the vote - said Mr Morales should not stand in any
new poll.
The
chief of the armed forces, Gen Williams Kaliman, then urged Mr Morales to step
down in the interests of peace and stability.
Mr Morales announced
his resignation soon afterwards. He then went to Mexico, where he claimed
political asylum.
Both he and
his former top minister Juan Ramón Quintana have
now been accused of sedition and terrorism by Bolivia's interim government,
which wants to put them under arrest.
Interior
Minister Arturo Murillo has accused Mr Morales of organising roadblocks to
prevent food from entering Bolivian cities, and said he wanted to see the
former president jailed for life. Mr Morales disputed
the credibility of the allegations on Twitter.


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