Bolivian protests grow

LA PAZ – Tens of thousands of Bolivian peasants and miners marched through La Paz on Tuesday as some opposition leaders urged early elections to end the crisis after President Carlos Mesa’s offer to resign.

Police fired tear gas to disperse miners who lobbed dynamite sticks and rocks during a protest calling for nationalisation of Bolivia’s huge natural gas reserves and constitutional reforms for more representation for the poor Indian majority. Mesa volunteered late on Monday to resign – his second such offer this year – after three weeks of indigenous protests blockaded La Paz and triggered the worst turmoil in his 19-month presidency of South America’s poorest nation.Congress, which rejected a Mesa resignation in March, will hold a session today in the southern city of Sucre to debate whether to accept his latest offer to quit.The session was moved to Sucre because La Paz, about 321 km away, remained too volatile.”We have made every effort and talked to all the parties, to try to hold the session in La Paz,” said Congress president Hormando Vaca Diez, who could be Bolivia’s next president.”I have decided to convene Congress in the city of Sucre for the day after tomorrow.”In a sign of concern over the swelling protests, the United States ordered its non-emergency personnel at its embassy in Bolivia and all US diplomats’ relatives to leave the country.The State Department also urged Americans against visiting the country.- Nampa-ReutersMesa volunteered late on Monday to resign – his second such offer this year – after three weeks of indigenous protests blockaded La Paz and triggered the worst turmoil in his 19-month presidency of South America’s poorest nation.Congress, which rejected a Mesa resignation in March, will hold a session today in the southern city of Sucre to debate whether to accept his latest offer to quit.The session was moved to Sucre because La Paz, about 321 km away, remained too volatile.”We have made every effort and talked to all the parties, to try to hold the session in La Paz,” said Congress president Hormando Vaca Diez, who could be Bolivia’s next president.”I have decided to convene Congress in the city of Sucre for the day after tomorrow.”In a sign of concern over the swelling protests, the United States ordered its non-emergency personnel at its embassy in Bolivia and all US diplomats’ relatives to leave the country.The State Department also urged Americans against visiting the country.- Nampa-Reuters