Post date: Jul 04, 2013 9:26:59 PM
South American leftists rally to Bolivia's side in Snowden saga.
COCHABAMBA, BOLIVIA (JULY 4, 2013) (REUTERS) - South American leaders arrived in Bolivia on Thursday (July 4) to rally behind Bolivian President Evo Morales, whose plane was diverted in Europe this week on suspicions that fugitive U.S. spy agency contractor Edward Snowden was aboard.
The presidential gathering in Cochabamba, Bolivia, is aimed at expressing outrage over Morales' "virtual kidnapping" and the U.S. pressure they believe spurred it.Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro said the region was united in its stance on the incident.
"We are very strong, very sure in what we are doing."
Bolivia said Morales was returning from Moscow on Tuesday when France and Portugal abruptly banned his plane from entering their airspace and it was forced to land in Vienna. Austrian officials said they inspected his plane there, but Bolivia's
defense minister denied this.
This unusual treatment of a presidential plane upset leaders in Latin America, which has a history of U.S.-backed coups.
Ecuadorean President Rafael Correa said those responsible for the incident had to be held accountable.
"If this had happened with a North American head of state, imagine, if we had impeded their flight over our countries and if they were on the point of running out of fuel and obligated to make an emergency landing in a country, and to make matters worse, having to be there thirteen hours. Undoubtedly that would be unheard of and a justification for war. We cannot allow these things to happen with impunity."
No Latin American country has offered asylum yet to Snowden, who is wanted by Washington for disclosure of intelligence secrets.
The presidents of Ecuador, Venezuela, Argentina, Uruguay and Suriname will attend Thursday's meeting. More moderate
governments in the region will send lower-ranking officials, indicating the 12-nation South American bloc Unasur is split.
Noticeably absent would be presidents from regional heavyweight Brazil and three countries that are close U.S.
allies: Peru, Chile and Colombia.
Bolivia and Venezuela said they had received extradition requests for Snowden from the United States, which they
repudiated.