Left-leaning Bolivia leader starts new term

LA PAZ, Bolivia – Evo Morales began a second term as Bolivia’s president Friday by declaring colonialism dead in the Andean nation.

The Aymara Indian was sworn in wearing a sash on which traditional national figures were replaced by two 19th-century heroes of indigenous resistance.

Morales said he has sought to eradicate all vestiges of colonial repression and discrimination against Bolivia’s indigenous majority. He was re-elected by a landslide in December.

In 2008, he expelled the U.S. ambassador and DEA from the world’s No. 3 cocaine-producing country.

Morales has allied Bolivia with Venezuela and Cuba and drawn criticism from the U.S. for ties with Iran.