Bolivian president laments his lack of a wife

LA PAZ
Bolivian President Evo Morales lamented his lack of a wife in a speech to mark International Women's Day on Wednesday, saying it was hard to get hitched when he was already married to Bolivia.

Morales, 46, who was sworn in as Bolivia's first indigenous president in January, has a young daughter from a past relationship but has never married.

"How nice it would be (to get married) but it's difficult, ladies, when you've committed yourself to Bolivia," he said, drawing loud applause.

He said potential partners either feared they would never get to see him or that he would end up in prison.

Morales, whose normal working day is from 5 a.m. to after midnight, rose into politics as the leader of the country's rebellious coca farmers and was arrested several times for leading sometimes violent protests.

The leftist president, who likes to play soccer and recently suggested it would be nice to have a singles night with women journalists, has four women in his Cabinet.