President Hugo Chavez says Venezuela will not tolerate a movement for secession in Bolivia’s eastern lowland states. Chavez says his government has not meddled in the domestic affairs of other Latin American nations, but would if Bolivian states now seeking greater autonomy from Bolivia’s central government push for total independence.

He did not say Thursday what specifically Venezuela would do.

Bolivia’s largest and richest state overwhelmingly backed a May 4 referendum seeking greater autonomy from the leftist government of President Evo Morales. Leaders insist they have no interest in full independence.

Chavez, a close Morales ally, accuses the U.S. of fomenting the state’s autonomy movement, a charge U.S. officials deny.