Bolivian President Evo Morales said he was worried that the "fascist right" in Argentina and Pinochet supporters in Chile might win the elections in the two countries of the South Cone, state-run Bolivian news agency ABI reported.

"What would happen - and we should be prepared for it -if Pinochet supporters win (this year's presidential) elections in Chile? It would mean a major blow for democracy in Latin Amierica," Evo, a left-leaning president close to Venecuelan Socialist President Hugo Chávez during an official ceremony in La Paz.

Regarding Argentina, Morales also added: "What happens if the racist, fascist right returns to Argentina?" Morales voiced concerns over the situation in Bolivia, which "neighbours both countries" and said that "the empire is surrounding us" to describe the situation of his country in regional politics. "I'm very concerned about the elections in South America," he added.

Chile will stage presidential elections in December, in which the government's centre-left candidate Eduardo Frei, is facing increasing opposition from the centre-right led by Sebastián Piñeira, who lost to President Michelle Bachelet in the last presidential vote in 2005.

Argentina will hold presidential elections in 2011. In June, the centre-left government suffered a major defeat in mid-term elections to the centre-right Unión-PRO, backed by farming organizations.