Bolivia severs ties with "Israel" over Gaza

Source: AP, 14-01-2009
Following in footsteps of Venezuelan counterpart, President Evo Morales claims Olmert should be tried for genocide in international court
President Evo Morales says Bolivia has broken relations with "Israel" over its offensive in the Gaza Strip and will seek to charge top "Israeli" officials with genocide in the International Criminal Court.
"Israel" does not have an embassy in Bolivia, and the nearest ambassador is situated in Peru.
Morales said Wednesday the "Israeli" Military Forces operation "seriously threatened world peace." He is calling for Prime Minister Ehud Olmert to face criminal charges for the deaths of hundreds of Palestinian civilians.
Morales chided the United Nations' "Insecurity Council" for its "lukewarm" response to the crisis. He called for the UN to hold an emergency general session to condemn the fighting.
He also said "Israeli" President Shimon Peres should be stripped of his Nobel Peace Prize for failing to stop the operation.
The Bolivian president is known for his alliance with Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez, who announced last week that his country would be expelling "Israeli" Ambassador Shlomo Cohen in response to the operation in Gaza.
Foreign Ministry officials said Wednesday that Morales' announcement would not affect "Israeli" tourists currently traveling in Bolivia. An official announcement is planned for later in the evening.