Bolivia's first indigenous president, Evo Morales, has described relations with the US embassy in La Paz as 'like a turd'.
Morales was marking the 520th anniversary of Christopher Columbus' arrival in the New World.
At a ceremony marking 'Decolonisation Day' on Friday, he said relations with the US embassy in La Paz have become so bad they are 'like a turd'.
He recalled how previous Bolivian governments would seek Washington's blessing on key appointments, including interior minister and police and armed forces chiefs.
No longer. That all changed after Morales, a longtime coca growers' union leader, took office in 2006.
Two years later, he kicked out US drug agents and Washington's ambassador, accusing them of inciting the opposition.
US counterdrug cooperation has since been radically reduced.
