Nov 26 (Reuters) - Latin American stocks and currencies joined a broader selldown in emerging markets on Friday as the possibility of a more dangerous coronavirus variant saw investors fleeing risky assets on fears of new global restrictions. MSCI"s index of Latin American (Latam) currencies (.MILA00000CUS) sank 0.8%, touching a seven-month low, while stocks plummeted 3.5% to a one-year low.Mexican and Chilean currencies , led losses across Latam, dropping more than 1% each, while Argentine stocks (.MERV) lagged their regional peers with a more than 5% slump. Brazil"s real fared considerably better than its regional peers, only falling around 0.2% as the health regulator called for some travel restrictions, although President Jair Bolsonaro appeared to dismiss such measures. read more Brazil"s central bank head also said he expected inflation to peak soon and recede next year, taking some pressure off the economy. read more Broader emerging market assets slumped after a coronavirus variant that scientists say could be vaccine-resistant and more transmissible was detected in Botswana, Hong Kong and South Africa. Several countries in Europe and Asia tightened travel restrictions. read more South Africa"s rand sank 2% and hit more than one-year lows. The rand ended its third straight week in the red. "This is devastating for (South Africa"s) tourism sector which was hoping for a bumper December as borders had opened up... Terms of trade are certainly going to be less favourable as a result of lost tourism dollars," said Lloyd Miller, research analyst at ETM Analytics in South Africa. Turkey"s lira lost almost 4% during the session, before paring some losses. It is seen ending the week down about 9%. The central bank said it was committed to interest rate cuts, even after the latest sent the currency crashing to all-time lows. In what could further strain ties between Ankara and its Western allies, a Turkish court ruled on Friday that philanthropist Osman Kavala must stay in prison, extending his four-year detention without conviction. Western countries have called for his immediate release. read more Ukraine"s sovereign dollar bonds tumbled to their lowest in more than a year and the cost of insuring exposure to the country"s debt rose amid rising concerns over tension with Russia. Russia"s rouble hit seven-month lows with tumbling oil prices also weighing. The share of foreign investors among holders of Russia"s OFZ treasury bonds declined to 21.2% in October, its lowest since Aug. 1, central bank data showed on Friday.