Bolivian president to hold fresh elections

By Jeyhun Aliyev

ANKARA (AA) - Bolivian President Evo Morales on Sunday said he will hold fresh elections after international monitors identified serious irregularities in the last vote, local media reported.

The announcement came at a news conference he addressed in the capital La Paz after a report from the Organization of American States (OAS) urged "deep" investigation into discrepancies of the vote count in presidential elections held on Oct. 20.

The results were followed by weeks of anti-government protests and political unrest challenging the writ of the leader who has ruled the South American nation for more than a decade.

"I have decided to renew all the members of the Supreme Electoral Tribunal and call for new elections," said Morales, Venezuela-based teleSUR news portal reported.

He also urged people to exercise calm and patience.

"We all have an obligation to make Bolivia peaceful," Morales said.

If Morales is re-elected it will be his fourth consecutive term in the office.