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Bolivia expels Mexican, Spanish officials as diplomatic standoff heats up

31 December 2019 02:00 (UTC +04:00)

Bolivia’s government expelled Mexican and Spanish diplomats on Monday, escalating a diplomatic dispute after Mexico’s embassy in La Paz granted asylum to allies of Bolivia’s former socialist president Evo Morales, APA reports quoting Reuters.

Bolivian caretaker President Jeanine Anez said her administration had asked Mexican ambassador María Teresa Mercado and several Spanish officials to leave the country within 72 hours and called them “persona non grata”.

Shortly after, Mexico’s foreign ministry said it would recall Mercado to ensure her safety and branded Bolivia’s move as “political in nature”.