MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Bolivian Armed Forces close ranks in support of legality

Bolivian Armed Forces closed ranks and warned Wednesday they will not be tempted with coup conspiracies. The strong statement follows insistent rumours of military and social dissatisfaction if general elections scheduled for next December are postponed because Congress can't agree on a redistribution of benches.

The Commander of the Army General Marcelo Antezana expressed "full and absolute" support to caretaker President Eduardo Rodriguez who has called on Congress to guarantee the coming December elections.

Bolivia's Constitutional Court ruled that following on the latest census, a redistribution of Congressional seats is mandatory for the coming elections, whenever they are held. However this has triggered a dispute among those regions set to gain or loose Congressional representation.

"In vain will have come those who knock on the garrison's doors, in vain will they try to involve us in coup attempts, we remain faithful and respectful of the Constitution of the Republic", said General Antezana.

The statement is intended to block rumours of alleged coup preparations that would be triggered if the coming December 4 election for a new presidential ticket, Congress and governors is postponed.

Meantime the Public Opinion Committee from Santa Cruz, one of Bolivia's richest provinces with a strong autonomic feeling, warned that even if general elections are postponed, it will proceed to elect a new governor.