Chile said Monday that it is only an "observer" to the political crisis in Bolivia, which worsened after President Carlos Mesa submitted his resignation to Congress.

"From the point of view of Chile, we have the highest respect for the decisions of the Bolivian State within the framework of its own institution," said government spokesman Francisco Vidal.

Mesa decided to quit his presidency Monday after warning that awave of protests against his 15-month-old government may soon leave Bolivia's largest cities isolated by road blockades.

Chile "only plays a role of observer" and President Mesa's resignation would not affect bilateral relations, Vidal said.

"The basis of good relations among countries and, particularly, neighboring ones, is neither intervene nor question the decisions and process of any nation and its leaders," he added.

Bolivian legislators could decide as early as Tuesday whether to accept Mesa's resignation, which followed several days of street protests.

Bolivia, whose government has a historical claim for access to the sea through the territory it lost to Chile in the War of the Pacific in 1879, broke off diplomatic relations with Chile in March 1978.

But the two countries maintain commercial relations and have consulates in each other's capital.

Source: Xinhua