Former US ambassador to Bolivia, Manuel Rocha, has been arrested and charged with being a covert agent for Cuba's intelligence services since 1981.

Rocha is accused of engaging in clandestine activities, providing false information to US officials, and seeking positions within the US government to gain access to classified information.

Rocha admitted to being a Cuban agent during undercover meetings with the FBI.

Rocha's activities are believed to have influenced the Bolivian presidential race in 2002, helping Evo Morales win.

The charges Rocha faces carry a maximum sentence of life in prison.

This case reveals significant infiltration of the US government by a foreign agent and could strain US-Cuba relations.

The US Department of Justice is expected to vigorously pursue the case with more charges forthcoming.