Bolivia asks U.S. ambassador to leave

LA PAZ (Reuters) - Bolivian leftist President Evo Morales on Wednesday asked United States Ambassador Philip Goldberg to leave the South American country after accusing him of instigating protests against his government.

"The ambassador of the United States is conspiring against democracy and wants Bolivia to break apart," Morales said during a speech at the presidential palace in La Paz.

Morales, an ally of anti-Washington leftist leader Venezuela President Hugo Chavez, said he had asked his foreign affairs minister to send a letter to the U.S. embassy asking Goldberg to "urgently return to his country".

The announcement came as Bolivia was forced to reduce natural gas exports to Brazil because anti-government protesters damaged a pipeline, and a day after protesters stormed public buildings in the eastern Santa Cruz city, an opposition stronghold.

In late August, Goldberg met with the governor of Santa Cruz, Ruben Costas, who the Morales government has blamed for the unrest.

Morales did not say what proof he had that the ambassador was behind the most recent protests.

(Editing by Sandra Maler)