Bolivia's New President - Brought To You by Coke

Breaking on CNN:

The head of Bolivia's Supreme Court -- Eduardo Rodriguez -- has been sworn in as interim president to succeed the outgoing Carlos Mesa. ... The job of interim president automatically went to Rodriguez after two congressional leaders, who were first and second in line for the post, turned it down.

Senate leader Hormando Vaca Diez was first in line under Bolivia's constitution to be named as Mesa's successor, but the leaders of the street protests that have effectively shut down the capital of La Paz vowed to drive him from office if he gained power.

Leftist opposition leader Evo Morales lashed out late Wednesday at Vaca Diez, saying he was a wealthy landowner and another discredited member of the "mafia of the oligarchy" that has ruled Bolivia for decades.

"We will wage a campaign of civil disobedience" against any Vaca Diez presidency, warned Morales, a leader of poor coca leaf-farmers and a House deputy who heads a leftist party, the Movement Toward Socialism. "The street mobilizations will not halt."

posted by Ace at 02:13 AM

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