Evo Morales Arrives in Mexico

"We granted political asylum to Evo Morales," Mexican Foreign Secretary Marcelo Ebrard said at a press conference on Monday afternoon.

"A few moments ago I received a call from Evo Morales through which he verbally and formally requested political asylum in the country," said the Mexican official.

"And Mexico has decided to grant him asylum for humanitarian reasons. In Bolivia, his life and integrity are in danger," he added. This morning the house of Evo Morales' sister had been devoured by a fire.

Earlier on Monday, Ebrard had made public AMLO's offer to give refuge to the Bolivian former president and had stressed that he would not recognize a government "that does not emanate from a legitimate electoral process," but that he will respect "the self-determination of people".

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The Secretariat of Foreign Affairs was instructed to grant "the corresponding safe-conduct" and guarantee the integrity and security of the Bolivian leader, Ebrard said while informing that he had asked the Senate to support the decision.

Almost simultaneously, Bolivian opposition leader Carlos Mesa Gisbert asked law enforcement on Twitter to avoid similar damage to his home. A few minutes later, the former president replied on the same social network with a call to stop the violence.

"I ask my people with much affection and respect to look after peace and not to fall into the violence of those groups that seek to destroy the Rule of Law", Morales said. "We cannot confront each other among Bolivian brothers and sisters. I make an urgent call to resolve any differences through dialogue and cooperation".

This morning Ebrard said that what happened in Bolivia was a violation of that country's constitution.

"The Bolivian Army asked for the resignation of the president and President Evo Morales decided to present his resignation to avoid a civil war. Therefore, it is a coup, because the Army asked for the resignation of the president and that violates the constitutional order in that country. Those are the facts".

In his Sunday address, Morales explained that he was leaving office "so that Carlos Mesa and Luis Fernando Camacho do not continue persecuting my brothers, union leaders".

AMLO's government took a very clear position against the departure of the former president. Ebrard described what happened as "an ongoing military operation" and compared it with what happened in other similar events in a region marked by military coups.

"It is similar to those events that marked Latin America last century. Mexico will maintain its position of respect for democracy and institutions. No coup," emphasized the foreign minister.

On Monday night, Ebrard posted to his Twitter account a photograph of the military plane sent by the Mexican government to take him out of Lima. He landed on Mexico City around noon