| The United States denied Thursday that it removed | | | | have to talk to the Bolivian government about that. As |
| anti-aircraft missiles from Bolivia without the knowledge | | | | for these other allegations, it's just not true. This was |
| of top officials in La Paz. The State Department says | | | | done at the request of the Bolivian government, and it |
| the operation was at the request of Bolivian authorities | | | | was done in partnership and consistent I would note |
| and in line with an Organization of American States | | | | with an Organization of American States resolution on |
| resolution. | | | | the matter," he said. |
| Officials here acknowledge that the United States | | | | The O.A.S. resolution, approved at the regional |
| removed a small number of MANPADS, man-portable | | | | grouping's meeting in Ft. Lauderdale Florida in June, |
| air defense system, from Bolivia earlier this year as | | | | called for strict security for MANPADS, and the |
| part of a broader effort to keep the shoulder launch | | | | destruction of surplus weapons. |
| missiles out of the hands of terrorists. | | | | It urged member countries in a position to do so to |
| But they are denying charges from Bolivia, which | | | | provide aid and technical assistance to other states in |
| figured in that country's presidential election campaign, | | | | collecting, securing and destroying stockpiles. |
| that the operation was conducted without the | | | | The United States has worked with a number of |
| knowledge of senior Bolivian officials. | | | | countries around the world to reduce MANPADS |
| Bolivian President-elect Evo Morales, the victor in last | | | | arsenals, especially in nations where the missiles are |
| Sunday's election, has alleged that the 28 | | | | kept under poor security and could find their way onto |
| Chinese-made missiles were spirited out of the country | | | | the black market and into the hands of terrorists. |
| in June in an operation he described as international | | | | U.S. officials have been seeking to persuade Nicaragua |
| intervention. | | | | to dispose of hundreds of Russian-made MANPADs |
| He says he will press for an investigation of the affair | | | | acquired in the 1980's by the leftwing Sandinista |
| and is quoted as saying he would punish those | | | | government. |
| responsible and evict U.S. military advisers from the | | | | That effort, too, has become ensnared by domestic |
| country. | | | | politics with the leftist-dominated Nicaraguan Congress |
| Questioned about the issue here, State Department | | | | opposing the disposal effort. |
| Spokesman Sean McCormack said U.S. officials had | | | | During his campaign for the Bolivian presidency, Mr. |
| worked with the Bolivian government on the removal | | | | Morales filed a lawsuit against government officials for |
| of a small quantity of missiles he said were in a | | | | allegedly putting the country's national defense at risk |
| deteriorating condition. | | | | by disposing of the missiles. |
| He said the removal came at the request of the | | | | The missile issue is another potential problem in the U.S. |
| Bolivian government consistent with an O.A.S. | | | | relationship with Mr. Morales, who has sparked concern |
| resolution last June and said suggestions to the | | | | in Washington with campaign promises to legalize |
| contrary are untrue: | | | | coca production in Bolivia and oppose hemispheric free |
| "As for who was told in Bolivia about the action, you'll | | | | trade. |