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LequteMan
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Brazil's foreign minister, Antonio Patriota, resigned yesterday, Monday 26 August amid rising diplomatic tension with neighboring Bolivia after a Brazilian diplomat confessed he helped a Bolivian opposition senator who faced criminal charges flee the country over the weekend.
The senator, Roger Pinto, allegedly leaked Bolivian documents showing collusion between government officials and drug traffickers. Although he wasn’t permitted to leave Bolivia, He took refuge in Brazil’s embassy, saying he received death threats and was granted asylum in Brazil last year.
Mr. Patriota suggested that he was unaware of the plan on Saturday and that Mr. Pinto’s transfer to Brazil will be investigated by the foreign ministry.
Bolivian officials said they consider Mr. Pinto a fugitive and will seek extradition.
He will be replaced by Luiz Alberto Figueiredo, Brazil's representative to the United Nations.
It is rumoured that Mr. Patriota has been offered a post at Brazil's U.N. mission.
Bolivian officials said they consider Mr. Pinto a fugitive and will seek extradition.