Bolivia's Morales visits Cuba for medical appointment

Evo Morales, the Bolivian ex-President, is in Cuba for a medical examination, a former official from his government said on Friday, after the ousted leader sought asylum in Mexico.

“President Evo Morales is in Cuba for a medical appointment with the Cuban medical team that attended him in Bolivia,” said Gabriela Montano, the former health minister under Morales’ administration.

Mexico’s Foreign Ministry said Morales left for Cuba on Friday morning on what was supposed to be a brief trip.

The veteran leftist leader stepped down in November in the face of widespread protests against him and allegations that a presidential election had been rigged in his favour.