Bolivia's president slams U.S. for smearing Argentine gov't

LIMA, Dec. 24

Bolivian President Evo Morales on Monday accused the United States of fabricating the so-called suitcase affair to undermine the prestige of Argentine government, reports reaching here said.

Speaking at a public event in Chapare, a province in the central Bolivian department of Cochabamba, Morales said he had frequently been warned of possible emergence of money and drugs when he was a union leader.

Such suspected gifts were like the Trojan horses that were intended to undermine his career or even send him to prison, he added.

Venezuelan-U.S. entrepreneur Guido Antonini Wilson was arrested in August with a suitcase allegedly containing 800,000 U.S. dollars at the Argentine customs.

The suitcase was taken on Dec. 12 to a court in Miami, Florida, where three Venezuelans and a Uruguayan were accused of trying to cover up a "scheme" to bring 800,000 dollars in cash to Argentina.

U.S. prosecutors have claimed that the seized fund was meant to finance the election campaign of Argentina's new President Cristina Fernandez.

The former first lady has accused Washington of using a "vile trick" to smear her government for its close ties to Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez.

Chavez has dismissed as "big lies" the allegations by U.S. prosecutors.