Bolivia to buy Chinese planes in anti-drug effort
October 03, 2009, 02:12 AM
Bolivia's government says it is buying six Chinese jet planes to help in the fight against drug trafficking. It blames U.S. restrictions for blocking plans to buy Czech aircraft.
Defense Minister Walker San Miguel tells local news media that the K-8 trainers will cost about $57.8 million. The deal was authorized on Monday and reported locally on Thursday.
Leftist President Evo Morales says his country had planned to buy Czech planes but they use U.S. technology and Washington blocked the deal.
Washington has criticized the anti-narcotics efforts of a Bolivian government led by a former coca-growers' union leader. Morales says he's fighting illegal drugs and says Washington itself is hindering the drug battle.