Bolivia Prez Shuts Down 'Spying' US Drug Team

US officials call accusations 'absurd'
By Mary Papenfuss,  Newser Staff
Posted Nov 2, 2008 5:18 AM CST
Bolivia Prez Shuts Down 'Spying' US Drug Team
Bolivia's President Evo Morales waves during a meeting with Central America indigenous leaders at the XVIII Presidential Ibero American Summit in San Salvador.   (AP Photo/Esteban Felix)

Leftist Bolivian President Evo Morales has barred US federal drug agents from operating in his country after accusing them of "spying" and financing violent anti-government protest groups. He halted all Drug Enforcement Administration efforts to battle the cocaine trade in Bolivia, but stopped short of expelling agents. US officials called the accusations "absurd." Bolivia is the world's third largest supplier of cocaine.
(More Bolivia stories.)

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