BEIJING, July 5 (Xinhuanet) -- Several South American leaders have arrived in Bolivia to protest the recent diversion of a plane carrying Bolivian President Evo Morales, in Europe.

The Bolivian government claims , and Portugal all refused to let Morales’ plane through their airspace, due to suspicions that US whistle-blower Edward Snowden was onboard. Bolivian officials have repeatedly said they believe Washington was behind the diversion.

The presidential gathering in Co-cha-bamba is aimed at expressing Latin America’s collective outrage over the incident. Regional heavyweight Brazil has chosen to send lower-ranking officials to the event, but the presidents of Ecuador, Venezuela, Argentina, Uruguay and Suriname are all attending. Ecuadorean President Rafael Correa says those responsible must be held accountable.

"Imagine if this had happened with a North American head of state...if we had impeded their flight over our countries. And if they were on the point of running out of fuel and obligated to make an emergency landing in a country, and to make matters worse, having to be there thirteen hours. Undoubtedly that would be unheard of and a justification for war. We cannot allow these things to happen with impunity," Rafael Correa said.

(Source: CNTV.cn)