CIA Accused of Operating Illicitly in Bolivia and Ecuador

Correa: US diplomat directed CIA in Ecuador

QUITO, Ecuador (AP) — Ecuadorean President Rafael Correa accused an expelled U.S. diplomat of directing CIA operations in the South American nation, but offered no proof. Mark Sullivan, the U.S. Embassy's first secretary in the office of regional affairs, was declared a "persona non grata" on Wednesday and ordered to leave the country within 48 hours because of what the government called "unacceptable meddling" in Ecuadorean affairs.

Ecuadorean officials claim he disputed the transfer of a senior police investigator amid a growing diplomatic spat over Washington's aid to the South American nation.

Last month, Ecuador ordered U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement attache Armando Astorga expelled for supposed interference, although Washington said Astorga had already left the country when his assignment ended. ...

Ecuador's Foreign Minister Fander Falconi, right, announces during a news conference that Ecuador's government expelled Mark Sullivan, a US Embassy official, for alleged interference in internal affairs, Quito, Wednesday, Feb. 18, 2009. To the left Interior Minister Gustavo Jalkh

Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez and Bolivian President Evo Morales, both leftist allies of Correa, also have been critical of Washington and warned of alleged CIA operations in their countries.

Morales accused the agency last week of infiltrating state energy company YPFB.

"Regrettably there has been a CIA presence in Yacimientos Petroliferos Fiscales Bolivianos," Morales said Friday.

"Some of our companeros have been caught up in this external infiltration," Morales said, referring to a scandal over the robbery and killing of a businessman. Investigators suspect the $450,000 in cash stolen was intended as a bribe for YPFB officials.

Morales did not offer any proof either, but said the government will name alleged infiltrators "at any moment."

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Morales denounces infiltration of CIA in YPFB
abi.bo
[Translation]

Chapare, Cochabamba, Feb 20 (ABI).- On Friday, President Morales denounced infiltration caused by United States Central Intelligence Agency against YPFB (Public Oilfield Company), which is nowadays investigated because acts of corruption.

"Lamentably CIA was involved in YPFB and some MAS’ members have been involved in this infiltration," Morales denounced in a meeting in Chapare.

President Morales, who is returning from Russia and France, said that CIA bugged YPFB, a State Oilfield where ex-President Santos Ramirez, ex-member of MAS, was accused and arrested for having caused corruption.

"After their failures, when they tried to take me out of Government, through repeal referendum and civil coup, now they are attacking through YPFB."

Ex-President of YPFB, Santos Ramirez is accused for having illegally contracted a illegal Company in order to create a Gas Industry in Santa Cruz, the cost was $ 86 millions.

This case was investigated because casually a Businessman, Jorge O’Connor D’ Arlach was shot and murdered in La Paz by criminals that stole him $ 450.000.

Justice has evidences about a probable act of corruption in favor of Ramirez.

"Proximally, we will denounce involved people of CIA, however these corrupts are defending legally criminals and corrupts."

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