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 LA PAZ, Bolivia (AP) - South American leaders scrambled to avert a regional crisis over Bolivia's nationalization of its natural gas sector as Venezuelan leader Hugo Chavez flew with Bolivian President Evo Morales to a hastily arranged summit in Argentina on Thursday.
Morales had announced Monday that he had nationalized Bolivia's natural gas reserves and will reduce foreign participants to minority players — giving the companies six months to sign contracts or leave Bolivia.
The socialist Chavez, a political mentor and ally of the leftist Morales, said he came to Bolivia late Wednesday not to give advice but to offer "congratulations and learn from Bolivia's wisdom."
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