Bolivia's Morales says his vehicle was hit by gunfire as tensions flare

By Daniel Ramos and Monica Machicao

LA PAZ (Reuters) - Bolivia's former leader Evo Morales said on Sunday his vehicle was hit by gunfire captured in a video, reflecting how political tensions between him and the Andean nation's current president Luis Arce have turned violent.

Arce in comments on social media called for an "immediate and thorough investigation" of the incident and condemned any use of violence in politics.

Morales posted a video on Facebook taken on Sunday morning from inside a moving car, showing him sitting in the front passenger seat and at least two bullet holes in the windshield. 

A statement from a Morales-aligned bloc of the socialist MAS political party, itself split in half with loyalties divided between Morales and Arce, said that his convoy was ambushed near a military barracks by two vehicles with heavily armed men dressed in black.

Video shared with Reuters showed a frantic chase, during which Morales switched cars and his driver was injured.

Reuters could not independently verify the contents of the video or the claims made by Morales and his allies. 

The incident occurred at a time when Bolivia already has been gripped by tensions. Morales supporters have blocked key highways for two weeks, impeding delivery of food and fuel around the country, and clashed with security forces trying to clear the obstacles. Arce's government on Saturday accused Morales of "destabilizing" the country and trying to "interrupt democratic order."

In a radio interview after the incident, Morales said two vehicles intercepted him on the road and fired upon his car, saying a bullet passed "centimeters" from his head. The MAS statement said that a bullet hit the arm of the second vehicle's driver and another grazed his head.

"I don't know if they were soldiers or police," Morales said on the radio.

Bolivia's Deputy Security Minister Roberto Rios told journalists that police had not carried out any operation against Morales.

"As authorities in charge of state security, we are obliged to investigate any report, whether it is true or false," Rios said.

Morales, who served three terms as president, resigned in 2019 after a disputed election plunged the country into turmoil. Arce, his former economy minister, was elected the following year.

Arce is expected to run for reelection in the 2025 Bolivian election. Morales also has said he wants to be a candidate in next year.

The statement from the Morales-aligned MAS faction accused Arce and two government ministers of orchestrating the attack.

"This is not an isolated incident. It is clear evidence that we are facing a fascist government that does not hesitate to attack the life of former President Evo Morales," the statement said, claiming also that the assailants were seen entering the military barracks and subsequently boarding a helicopter waiting on the airstrip.

The country is also grappling with dwindling natural gas production, drained foreign currency reserves and rising inflation, which is increasing pressure on the ruling party and leading to increasingly messy political infighting.

Morales is also facing allegations that he had relationships with minors. He was formally summoned by regional prosecutors to testify in the case but did not appear, and now faces an arrest warrant. Morales has denied the accusations.

(This story has been corrected to clarify that the video was taken on Sunday, not Saturday, in paragraph 3)

(Reporting by Monica Machicao and Daniel Ramos; Writing by Adam Jourdan; Editing by Bill Berkrot and Will Dunham)