Argentine gov't confirms arrival of Evo Morales

BUENOS AIRES -- Bolivia's ex-President Evo Morales arrived in Argentina on Thursday and will remain in the country under "refugee" status, said the Argentine Foreign Affairs Minister Felipe Sola.

"He has just arrived, he has come to stay. He entered as an asylum seeker, but after entering, he will apply for refugee status," Sola told local news channel TN.

According to Sola, Morales "feels better here" in Argentina as it is closer to Bolivia, and his children have been in Argentina for three weeks.

Sola said that Morales was been accompanied by his former vice president Alvaro Garcia Linera and some former cabinet members.

The Argentine Ministry of the Interior, headed by Eduardo de Pedro, must now finalize the details to confirm Morales's refugee status.

On Dec 6, Morales traveled to Cuba from Mexico, where he first sought political asylum on Nov 12 after he resigned as president on Nov 10.