Chavez: Venezuela won´t tolerate secession in Bolivia

President Hugo Chavez says Venezuela will not tolerate a movement for secession in Bolivia´s eastern lowland states. Chavez says his government has not meddled in the domestic affairs of other Latin American nations, but would if Bolivian states now seeking greater autonomy from Bolivia´s central government push for total independence.

He did not say Thursday what specifically Venezuela would do.

Bolivia´s largest and richest state overwhelmingly backed a May 4 referendum seeking greater autonomy from the leftist government of President Evo Morales. Leaders insist they have no interest in full independence.

Chavez, a close Morales ally, accuses the U.S. of fomenting the state´s autonomy movement, a charge U.S. officials deny.