Time line of events from what we have been told in the news so far...Evo Morales my interpretation

[JDPriestly]

64. Here is the story.

This article was written after Morales had arrived home in Bolivia and was available on the French website of Le Monde. I posted this last night on another thread. I have corrected typos I made when I first posted this late last night.

The refusals of four European countries (France, Portugal, Spain and Italy) to open their air space followed a rumor that the computer technician, American Edward Snowden, sought by the US for espionage was aboard the presidential plane. That refusal elicited the anger of the Bolivians and a wave of protests by the South American governments.

Before quitting Moscow, where Morales attended a meeting of gas producing nations, Mister Morales said that he would be able to approve Snowden's request for political asylum to Bolivia (a request made as well as to 20 other countries, including France), if it should be received.

. . . . (Demonstrators were outside the French embassy apparently.)

In reprisal, the Bolivian Parliament is going to also demand the expulsion of the ambassadors of France, Portugal and Italy.

Le refus de quatre pays européens (France, Portugal, Espagne et Italie) d'ouvrir leur espace aérien faisait suite à une rumeur faisant état de la présence à bord de l'avion présidentiel, qui rentrait de Moscou, de l'informaticien américain Edward Snowden, recherché par les Etats-Unis pour espionnage. Un refus qui a suscité l'ire des Boliviens et une vague de protestation parmi les gouvernements sud-américains.

Avant de quitter Moscou, où il assistait à une réunion de pays producteurs de gaz naturel, M. Morales avait dit qu'il pourrait approuver la demande d'asile politique qu'a adressée M. Snowden à la Bolivie (ainsi qu'à vingt autres pays, dont la France), lorsqu'il l'aurait reçue.

. . . . (Demonstrators were outside the French embassy apparently.)

En représailles, le Parlement bolivien va en outre demander l'expulsion du pays des ambassadeurs de France, du Portugal et d'Italie.


http://www.lemonde.fr/ameriques/article/2013/07/03/une-rumeur-sur-snowden-provoque-une-crise-diplomatique-entre-paris-et-la-paz_3440849_3222.html

I would be surprised if the ambassadors are actually thrown out. I think that is just an empty threat that expresses displeasure.

It's possible that the French newspaper is wrong, but that is what it says.

Also, reprisal is a diplomatic term.

A reprisal is a limited and deliberate violation of international law to punish another sovereign state that has already broken them.[1] Reprisals in the laws of war are extremely limited, as they commonly breached the rights of civilians, an action outlawed by the Geneva Conventions. It is not to be confused with retorsions, as these constitute unfriendly acts generally permitted by international law.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reprisal

Der Standard has many pictures of Morales' press conference in Vienna, Schwechat airport. The Viennese are really trying to make up for the fact that Morales had to spend so long there. The Austrian president went to the airport to meet Morales.

Morales seems to have very little concern for protocol and appears to be a guy who likes the give and take of politics and thinks it is fun. He seems very likable from the photos of him in the Vienna airport that I have seen in Der Standard -- like just a really nice person. That's just my visual impression -- could be totally wrong.

http://derstandard.at/r4438/Cremers-Photoblog