Bolivian president rejects criticism from U.S. spy chief
Bolivian President Evo Morales on Thursday criticized a U.S. top intelligence officer who alleged that democracy is at risk in Bolivia and Venezuela, said reports from La Paz.

"U.S. intelligence lacks intelligence, because it is not only lying to its government but misinforming the world with its irresponsible declarations," said Morales, the nation's first president of indigenous origin.

"These statements are not only false and manipulated, but they are hiding the clear intention to destabilize the democracy that we are building," he added.

"We are a culture of dialogue and consensus," he said. "We defend life. We are not a culture of imposition and war. We do not promote the culture of death."

Bolivia's non-governmental organizations have also made statements rejecting U.S. National Intelligence Director Michael McConnell's assertions.

In his recent remarks made to the U.S. Senate, McConnell said, "In both nations, the presidents... are taking advantage of their personal popularity to undermine the opposition and eliminate control of their authority."