South American floods - February 2008 - were they caused by La Niña?

La Niña weather patterns are thought to be the driving force behind the heavy rain that has caused flooding in Bolivia:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/7243970.stm

The effects are detailed here:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/7230652.stm

Pictures of the flooding can be seen here:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/in_pictures/7237214.stm

Flooding has also hit Ecuador:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/7270318.stm

Buenos Aires in Argentina has also been affected:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/7270892.stm