MOSCOW. Nov 11 (Interfax) - Bolivian President Evo Morales has stepped down as a result of the U.S.-backed coup, State Duma Foreign Affairs Committee Deputy Chairman Alexei Chepa told Interfax on Monday.
"This is a coup, which, naturally, was organized by the United States. Given the pressure put on the army and the police, Morales decided to step down, obviously, to avoid bloodshed and destabilization," Chepa said.
The fact that the parliament speaker and some other statesmen have resigned also points to the coup, he said.
"Clearly, they wanted to avoid possible clashes and a civil war," he said.
Russia does not interfere in domestic affairs of other countries, but "we are ready to stretch out a helping hand to the Bolivian people," Chepa said.