Bolivian president calls for revolution in Africa

MEXICO. December 22. KAZINFORM Bolivian President Evo Morales said he wanted to promote the experience of the Bolivian revolution in Africa to raise political awareness among indigenous people, Kazinform refers to RIA Novosti.

Morales, 50, who has headed Bolivia since 2006, is continuing his second presidential term after he won elections again in December 2009 with 63% of the vote.

"I asked a number of Bolivian trade union leaders to study English so that I can send them later to Africa to raise awareness among the population of the need to restore the political power of the people," Morales said at a meeting celebrating the 73rd anniversary of the state oil company Yacimientos Petroliferos Fiscales Bolivianos (YPFB).

The Bolivian socialist leader said he believed that the peoples on the African continent must shed the "imperialistic manacles" and nationalize their natural resources.

"I want to tell the whole world and primarily the African countries that natural resources must belong to the people rather than to transnational corporations and a bunch of oligarchs, as it turns out to be, for example, in Nigeria," Morales said.

Morales is Bolivia's first fully indigenous national leader. Since he came to power, industries including oil-and-gas and transportation have been nationalized mainly to fund social programs, Kazinform cites RIA Novosti. See www.en.rian.ru for full version.