Morales leads charge against Cuban Embargo

COSTA DO SAUIPE, Brazil -- Bolivia's president says all Latin American nations should expel U.S. ambassadors until the Cuban embargo is lifted.

Evo Morales made the request of regional leaders while speaking at a summit of Latin American and Caribbean leaders.

Morales expelled the U.S. Ambassador to Bolivia in September, citing him with offering financial support to the leaders of violent opposition protests that occurred in five of Bolivia's nine departments. The United States responded in kind in October by labeling Bolivia's Ambassador to the United States "persona non grata".

Both Morales and Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez have expressed hopes that U.S. President-elect Barack Obama might end the embargo.

The summit that concludes Wednesday has been a victory lap of sorts for Cuba, newly admitted into the Rio Group of Latin American nations.

Most Latin American nations oppose the U.S. embargo of Cuba, but none has cut ties to the U.S. because of it.

(Compiled via wire services)