Bolivia to write new constitution

[bemildred]

Bolivian President Evo Morales has signed a law convening a special assembly to rewrite the constitution.

Mr Morales said Bolivia would be refounded, with indigenous peoples playing the role that they had been denied for hundreds of years.

Mr Morales also signed a law calling a referendum on greater regional autonomy, which will be held on 2 July.

He was elected in December 2005, pledging to reform the constitution and give more power to indigenous peoples.

BBC

[bemildred]

1. Bolivian president denounces US military "blackmail"

LIMA, March 6 (Xinhuanet) -- Bolivian President Evo Morales on Monday blasted the United States' decision to remove Bolivia from its list of anti-terrorism partners as "blackmail" and "intimidation".

The U.S. military told Bolivian army chiefs last week that the country was no longer seen as a "suitable partner" in the war on terrorism, reports from Bolivia quoted Morales as saying.

"Because we don't accept U.S. vetoes and will not remove a senior Bolivian officer, we are sent blackmail letters by... U.S. army officers," Morales said.

There were no guarantees that the anti-terror fight would continue in Bolivia, he added.

Xinhua

[The Backlash Cometh]

2. Yeah, well George Bush is re-writing his own constitution, with the

belated help of the Congress and the rubber stamping of his hand picked conservative Supreme Court.