Bolivia military rules out foreign intervention

Bolivia's armed forces said on Friday that they would allow no foreign military intervention in a deep political crisis that has spurred deadly protests, and rejected an offer of help from Venezuela's Hugo Chavez.

"To the President of Venezuela, Mr Hugo Chavez, and to the interantional community, we say that the armed forces (of Bolivia) emphatically reject any foreign intervention of any kind, wherever they be from," Armed Forces Commander in Chief Luis Trigo said in a televised statement.

"We will not allow any foreign soldier or armed force to set foot on our soil," he added.

Chavez had earlier said he could support armed movements if Bolivian President Evo Morales was toppled and could use any means to help restore him