La Paz has accused the US ambassador to Bolivia of supporting the opposition leaders who seek autonomy in the province of Santa Cruz.

"Ambassador Philip Goldberg has unveiled an agenda more political than diplomatic in Bolivia, and this agenda is linked to opponents of the current government," Interior Minister Alfredo Rada was quoted as saying by Xinhua on Friday.

An autonomy referendum by opponents of the central government in the Bolivian province of Santa Cruz is scheduled for Sunday.

Amid fears of a possible civil war, Bolivian President Evo Morales has described the outcome of the autonomy vote as invalid and illegal.

Yet others in the rich gas producing region of Bolivia's lowlands -Tarija, Beni and Pando- say they will join in seeking for their own autonomy.

The four autonomy-seeking territories altogether account for 35 percent of the country's 9.5 million population, and 65 percent of its gross domestic product.

The rich regions mostly populated by European descendants have rejected a plan by President Evo Morales requiring the redistribution of the country's wealth among the indigenous Indians who make up 60% of the population.

This has threatened to result in a split between Bolivia's producers and consumers, and possibly a civil war.

RB/MMN