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12/21/2005:

"Bolivia's Morales blasts U.S. policies on drug trafficking"

In his first news conference since claiming victory, he insisted he is 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 nor 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.

Washington considers Mr. Morales, who first rose to power as the leader of the country's coca-leaf farmers, an enemy in its anti-drug fight in Bolivia, the third-biggest cocaine producer after Colombia and Peru.
theglobeandmail.com