This article was taken from the Seattle Post Intelligence

http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/national/1102ap_bolivia_us_venezuela.html

Obviously Russia's Influence on other world leaders is beginning to effect the U.S. Though it doesnt make mention of Russia I am certain they are pulling some strings here.


LA PAZ, Bolivia -- Violent clashes over this fractured nation's political future have claimed eight lives and unleashed a diplomatic crisis, with Bolivia and the U.S. expelling each other's ambassadors.

Venezuela, meanwhile, kicked out its top U.S. diplomat and the South American allies demanded that Washington stay out of their affairs.

Anti-government protesters fought backers of President Evo Morales in Bolivia's pro-autonomy east with clubs, machetes and guns Thursday, killing at least eight people and injuring 20, authorities reported.

The demonstrators also seized natural gas fields, halting half of Bolivia's gas exports to Brazil, its No. 1 customer, for nearly seven hours, according to the affected Transierra pipeline company.

"We're going to tolerate only so much. Patience has its limits," Morales told supporters on Thursday. The Aymara Indian and former coca growers' union leader has so far hesitated to mobilize the military, fearing major bloodshed.

Vice President Alvaro Garcia announced a day of national mourning.

Meanwhile, U.S. officials angered by Morales' decision to expel Washington's ambassador for allegedly inciting opposition protesters responded Thursday by kicking out Bolivia's envoy to the United States.

"In response to unwarranted actions and in accordance with the Vienna Convention (on diplomatic protocol), we have officially informed the government of Bolivia of our decision to declare Ambassador Gustavo Guzman persona non grata," State Department spokesman Sean McCormack said. Diplomats declared "persona non grata" are generally given 72 hours to depart.

Earlier on Thursday, Bolivian Foreign Minister David Choquehuanca told reporters that he had requested U.S. Ambassador Philip Goldberg's expulsion but added that he also wrote Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice to say Bolivia "wishes to maintain bilateral relations."

Morales had accused Goldberg of conspiring with Bolivia's conservative opposition. Goldberg met last week with Santa Cruz Gov. Ruben Costas, one of the Bolivian president's most virulent opponents.

In Venezuela, President Hugo Chavez, in a show of solidarity with