LIMA, April 6 (Xinhua) -- The Bolivian government will prosecute the right-wing leaders of Santa Cruz state for organizing a referendum on autonomy, Interior Minister Alfredo Rada said Sunday, according to news reaching here.

    "This is not something we even have a choice about. We are obliged to begin legal proceedings due to what they have undertaken: promoting and setting up illegal events," the minister was quoted by Bolivian Radio as saying.

    President Evo Morales, during a meeting with coca-leaf growers earlier in the day, labeled Santa Cruz's move for autonomy as "seditious" and called for courts to intervene.

    Ruben Costas, Santa Cruz's governor, and his followers have decided to go ahead with a May 4 referendum, even though the country's government, congress and national electoral court have expressed their opposition to the move.

    On March 7, the national electoral court postponed a May 4 referendum on the Morales-backed constitution draft aimed at granting more political power to indigenous groups, and suspended referendums planned in four eastern states including Santa Cruz for greater autonomy.