US protests against Bolivia's decision to expel USAID

The US has expressed regret at Bolivia's decision to expel America's development agency, rejecting allegations made by President Evo Morales as "baseless".

A US official said the move against the US Agency for International Development (USAID) "harms the Bolivian people".

In a May Day address, Mr Morales accused USAID of seeking to "conspire against" Bolivia.

He linked the expulsion to a recent comment by the US secretary of state.

But US state department spokesman Patrick Ventrell defended USAID's work in Bolivia.

"We think the programmes have been positive for the Bolivian people, and fully co-ordinated with the Bolivian government and appropriate agencies under their own national development plan," he said.

USAID said it deeply regretted Mr Morales' decision.

"Those who will be most hurt by the Bolivian government's decision are the Bolivian citizens who have benefited from our collaborative work on education, agriculture, health, alternative development, and the environment," it said in a statement.