Ex-leader blames Bolivian woes on Colombia

LA PAZ, Bolivia, June 13 (UPI) -- Former Bolivian President Gonzalo Sanchez de Lozada said that the presence of Colombian narcotraffickers in Bolivia was contributing to the nation's troubles.

In an exclusive interview with the BBC's Spanish-language service, de Lozada said Colombian cocaine traffickers were exploiting Bolivia's economic and ethnic divides by promoting coca cultivation.

"There is a great division in Bolivia between the regions, between the ethnic groups and between the classes and this has been sustained and financed by dug trafficking," said de Lozada.

The former Bolivian leader, who fled the country amid widespread violent protests in October 2003, worked closely with the United States to eradicate coca in Bolivia. Local coca growers were among the tens of thousands who marched on Bolivian cities. Some 80 people were killed in those protests.

De Lozada is wanted in Bolivia on genocide charges in connection with the protests.

He told BBC Mundo however that he would like to return to Bolivia.

Last week protesters forced the resignation of President Carlos Mesa, de Lozada's vice president in 2003. Mesa was replaced by Supreme Court President Eduardo Rodriguez.