Bolivia's Finance Minister has resigned over comments he is said to have made in the United States about alleged financial ties between Bolivia's opposition and the leaders of Cuba and Venezuela.

In a communiqué read by Luis Carlos Jemio on Monday, he said his comments were taken out of context by some media. He specifically named the Associated Press. But he added that VOA reported his comments correctly.

During a conference Friday at the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington, Mr. Jemio said he had heard about alleged financial links between Bolivian opposition leader Evo Morales and Presidents Fidel Castro of Cuba and Hugo Chavez of Venezuela - but that they were no more than speculation. The Associated Press reported him as affirming there are links.

Mr. Jemio says he has asked the Associated Press for a retraction. 

Some information for this report provided by AP.