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| Violence mars Bolivian protests | Violence mars Bolivian protests |
| (1 day later) | |
| Anti-government protesters in Bolivia have clashed with supporters of leftist President Evo Morales, during a general strike against his policies. | Anti-government protesters in Bolivia have clashed with supporters of leftist President Evo Morales, during a general strike against his policies. |
| Hundreds of police officers took to the streets of the city of Santa Cruz to break up violent confrontations. | Hundreds of police officers took to the streets of the city of Santa Cruz to break up violent confrontations. |
| Activists in five of Bolivia's nine regions went on strike, protesting over Mr Morales's plans to share natural gas revenues with poorer provinces. | Activists in five of Bolivia's nine regions went on strike, protesting over Mr Morales's plans to share natural gas revenues with poorer provinces. |
| The five energy-rich provinces have called for more autonomy from La Paz. | The five energy-rich provinces have called for more autonomy from La Paz. |
| The organisers of the strike said it would be followed on Wednesday by a day of roadblocks to cut off access to those regions. | The organisers of the strike said it would be followed on Wednesday by a day of roadblocks to cut off access to those regions. |
| The bubbling crisis led to a national referendum on the positions of Mr Morales and the governors of the five eastern provinces opposed to him. | The bubbling crisis led to a national referendum on the positions of Mr Morales and the governors of the five eastern provinces opposed to him. |
| Voters gave overwhelming backing to Mr Morales in the 10 August ballot. | Voters gave overwhelming backing to Mr Morales in the 10 August ballot. |
| But they also approved the opposition governors - doing nothing to ease the political deadlock. | But they also approved the opposition governors - doing nothing to ease the political deadlock. |
| Growing concern | Growing concern |
| Police fired tear gas into the crowds during clashes in Santa Cruz, the nation's business capital. | Police fired tear gas into the crowds during clashes in Santa Cruz, the nation's business capital. |
| Anti-government demonstrators carrying baseball bats and shields fought with Morales supporters in a poor neighbourhood of the city. | Anti-government demonstrators carrying baseball bats and shields fought with Morales supporters in a poor neighbourhood of the city. |
| Local television showed pictures of youths clashing with police and journalists in other parts of the city. | Local television showed pictures of youths clashing with police and journalists in other parts of the city. |
| In Tarija, the province holding much of the country's natural gas reserves, a small group of protesters was reported to have stormed and occupied a government building. | In Tarija, the province holding much of the country's natural gas reserves, a small group of protesters was reported to have stormed and occupied a government building. |
| One-day strikes were held in Santa Cruz, Beni, Pando, Tarija and Chuquisaca provinces. | One-day strikes were held in Santa Cruz, Beni, Pando, Tarija and Chuquisaca provinces. |
| Bolivia's four other provinces, where Mr Morales enjoys huge popularity, did not hold strikes. | Bolivia's four other provinces, where Mr Morales enjoys huge popularity, did not hold strikes. |
| The governors of the five provinces opposed to Mr Morales want him to stop taking energy revenues previously earmarked for their provinces to pay for a national pension scheme. | The governors of the five provinces opposed to Mr Morales want him to stop taking energy revenues previously earmarked for their provinces to pay for a national pension scheme. |
| But he argues that they can afford to help with anti-poverty programmes because their coffers swelled after he increased taxes on energy companies in 2006. | But he argues that they can afford to help with anti-poverty programmes because their coffers swelled after he increased taxes on energy companies in 2006. |
| Repeated attempts at dialogue between the government and the governors have failed to produce any agreement. | Repeated attempts at dialogue between the government and the governors have failed to produce any agreement. |
| The strikes are another indication that the current deadlock is no nearer a solution, says the BBC's Latin America analyst James Painter. | The strikes are another indication that the current deadlock is no nearer a solution, says the BBC's Latin America analyst James Painter. |
| Concern is growing that without compromise by both sides, Bolivia will be trapped in a debilitating crisis, our correspondent adds. | Concern is growing that without compromise by both sides, Bolivia will be trapped in a debilitating crisis, our correspondent adds. |
| The latest violence comes just days after another anti-Morales march in Santa Cruz saw police fire tear gas at protesters. | The latest violence comes just days after another anti-Morales march in Santa Cruz saw police fire tear gas at protesters. |
| The province's governor, Ruben Costas, said the president was responsible for the clashes, accusing him of being "the real criminal". | The province's governor, Ruben Costas, said the president was responsible for the clashes, accusing him of being "the real criminal". |