Bolivia's President Evo Morales said Thursday he hoped South American leaders attending the Summit of the Union of South American Nations (UNASUR) in Suriname Friday would denounce a potential U.S.-led military intervention in Syria.

"We condemn, we do not accept, what is happening in Syria. Hopefully, tomorrow at the Unasur gathering we can issue a document denouncing the intervention of the United States government," Morales said in La Paz.

Morales said while several countries in South America are pro- capitalist and pro-imperialist, he hoped that out of respect for human life and for peace in the Middle East, those countries would support the regional bloc's rejection of intervention in Syria.

The Bolivian leader said the alleged use of chemical weapons in Syria was being used by the U.S. government as an excuse to invade Syria, as it did with Iraq.

What is happening in Syria "should make us reflect in Bolivia and in Latin America and the Caribbean," because the United States is fomenting internal conflicts in nations it has an economic interest in, so it can later intervene militarily, said Morales.

"They did that in Libya, accusing the government of dictatorship and inciting conflict among the people, and they succeeded in intervening militarily through NATO," said Morales. " I want you to know that now Libyan oil belongs to the United States and several European countries."

His sentiments were echoed by Venezuelan Foreign Minister Elias Jaua, who said his country would also propose the summit should discuss the Syrian situation and issue a rejection of military intervention in the Arab country.

UNASUR groups 12 South American nations, including Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Guyana, Paraguay, Peru, Suriname, Uruguay and Venezuela. Endi

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