U.S. asks envoy to Bolivia to come home to consult

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The United States has asked its envoy to Bolivia to return home after violent protests a week ago at the U.S. Embassy in La Paz, and warned Bolivia to meet its obligations to protect diplomats, the State Department said on Monday. Ambassador Philip S. Goldberg "will return to Washington for consultations on embassy security" after the protests June 9, State Department spokesman Gonzalo Gallegos said in a statement. Thousands of rock-throwing supporters of leftist Bolivian President Evo Morales protested outside the embassy, demanding the United States send home two right-wing Bolivian politicians. Hundreds of police in riot gear struggled to keep the demonstrators away from the fortress-like embassy and ended up firing tear gas to disperse them. Gallegos said that the United States appreciated the... [read full story]