Bolivian President Evo Morales today accused the United States of "blackmail, threats and intimidation" over its withdrawal of anti-terrorism funding from the poor South American country.
Morales, a coca farmer who once described his socialist movement as a "nightmare for the US," said the US military told Bolivian military chiefs last week the country was no longer seen as a suitable partner in the war on terrorism.
"Because we don't accept vetoes or the change of a commander, blackmail comes from the US armed forces," Morales was quoted as saying, referring to perceived US interference in the Bolivian military.
In a speech to mark the 21st anniversary of the rebellious left-wing city of El Alto, Morales said the US decision to "declassify" Bolivia as an anti-terrorism partner would lead to the withdrawal of US military equipment deployed for the countries' joint anti-terrorism force, as well as the discontinuation of grants and training courses.
In total, the US-sponsored programs were worth more than $300,000, Morales said.
"It's peanuts. These resources are only there to control Bolivia, to have intelligence agents. We don't want intelligence agents serving the US government," he was quoted as saying.
No one from the US Embassy in La Paz was immediately available to comment.
Washington has been wary of Morales' leftist rhetoric and worries he may make good on an election promise to decriminalize all coca growing, instead of maintaining quotas for cultivation for traditional uses like tea and chewing for altitude sickness and hunger.
It is not the first time Morales has attacked Washington since he was sworn into office in January. Late last month he criticized a US decision to revoke the visa of a close aide and fellow coca farmer.
Several weeks earlier, he attacked Washington's move to cut 96 percent of military aid to Bolivia because it had failed to sign an accord granting US troops immunity from prosecution at the International Criminal Court.
However, Morales has vowed to pursue friendly relations with the Bush administration and has promised to fight the narcotics trade in the world's third-largest cocaine producer.
Despite deep differences with Morales over coca and his political ideology, US diplomats have been positive about their early contacts with the new government.