Morales: Unite against those who sell their homeland

By Beyza Binnur Donmez

ANKARA (AA) - Bolivia's president Evo Morales on Tuesday called on the people to maintain unity during a mass rally for democracy in capital La Paz.

Thousands of Bolivians gathered to support their elected leader Morales and safeguard democracy in the wake of elections contested by the opposition.

Morales slammed opposition groups that do not accept the results of a "legitimate" election and accused them of trying to stage a coup.

"... unity will always defeat those who sell their homelands, with unity there will always be more projects and development of the Bolivians," Morales said during his address to people which was streamed live on Twitter.

Referring to Carlos Mesa, leader of the Revolutionary Left Front party who refused to concede defeat, Morales said: "Now we realize that it was not fraud but a coup d'etat [by them], so we will continue to defend what the people conquered."

The people will triumph to guarantee democracy, to guarantee equality, he said.

Bolivia is in a political unrest after alleged irregularities in presidential elections held late October.

Mesa said he will not recognize Morales' victory, claiming there was "fraud" in the vote count.