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Talks aim to end Bolivian crisis | Talks aim to end Bolivian crisis |
(about 1 hour later) | |
Bolivia's government has begun talks with a key opposition leader after days of clashes between supporters and opponents of President Evo Morales. | |
Government officials are meeting Mario Cossio, the governor of Tarija region, to try to ease tension in energy-rich eastern areas held by the opposition. | |
The talks come after 30 people were killed in the region of Pando. | The talks come after 30 people were killed in the region of Pando. |
The crisis centres on Mr Morales' decision to hold a referendum on a new constitution in December. | The crisis centres on Mr Morales' decision to hold a referendum on a new constitution in December. |
The president says he wants to re-distribute Bolivia's wealth and give a greater voice to the large indigenous community. | The president says he wants to re-distribute Bolivia's wealth and give a greater voice to the large indigenous community. |
Opposition leaders oppose the plan and demand greater autonomy as well as more control over revenues of natural gas in their areas. | Opposition leaders oppose the plan and demand greater autonomy as well as more control over revenues of natural gas in their areas. |
'Good-will gesture' | 'Good-will gesture' |
The talks between government officials and Mr Cossio are being held at the presidential palace in La Paz. | |
Mr Morales is determined to push through with constitutional changes | |
Before the meeting, Mr Cossio said the onus was now on President Morales to make concessions so that further violence could be averted. | |
Earlier, one of the opposition leaders has ordered the lifting of his supporters' widespread roadblocks in Santa Cruz province, which have left the energy-rich area short of gas, oil and food. | Earlier, one of the opposition leaders has ordered the lifting of his supporters' widespread roadblocks in Santa Cruz province, which have left the energy-rich area short of gas, oil and food. |
Branko Marinkovic said the move was a "sign of good will" which could foster dialogue and prevent any more blood being spilled. | Branko Marinkovic said the move was a "sign of good will" which could foster dialogue and prevent any more blood being spilled. |
In a separate development, the military on Sunday re-took control of Pando's provincial capital, Cobija, two days after the government declared a state of emergency there. | In a separate development, the military on Sunday re-took control of Pando's provincial capital, Cobija, two days after the government declared a state of emergency there. |
Defence Minister Walker San Miguel said a relative calm had been restored to Cobija. | Defence Minister Walker San Miguel said a relative calm had been restored to Cobija. |
US envoy expelled | US envoy expelled |
The troops also continued to find bodies from a "massacre" of pro-government farm workers on Thursday, in which officials said nearly 30 people were killed. | The troops also continued to find bodies from a "massacre" of pro-government farm workers on Thursday, in which officials said nearly 30 people were killed. |
The decision can have many serious effects and it seems that so far this hasn't been evaluated Philip GoldbergExpelled US Ambassador to Bolivia In Bolivia's opposition heartland | The decision can have many serious effects and it seems that so far this hasn't been evaluated Philip GoldbergExpelled US Ambassador to Bolivia In Bolivia's opposition heartland |
On Saturday, President Morales ordered the arrest of Pando Governor Leopoldo Fernandez for allegedly orchestrating the attack, saying he had hired "Brazilian and Peruvian assassins" to carry out the "ambush". | On Saturday, President Morales ordered the arrest of Pando Governor Leopoldo Fernandez for allegedly orchestrating the attack, saying he had hired "Brazilian and Peruvian assassins" to carry out the "ambush". |
Mr Fernandez has denied having anything to do with the deaths, insisting they were the result of clashes between rival groups. | Mr Fernandez has denied having anything to do with the deaths, insisting they were the result of clashes between rival groups. |
The ongoing crisis will be the focus of an emergency regional summit on Monday. | The ongoing crisis will be the focus of an emergency regional summit on Monday. |
Chilean President Michelle Bachelet said she hoped the Union of South American Nations (Unasur) could help promote a democratic solution. | Chilean President Michelle Bachelet said she hoped the Union of South American Nations (Unasur) could help promote a democratic solution. |
"We cannot be idle in the face of the situation, provoking anxiety among us," she said. | "We cannot be idle in the face of the situation, provoking anxiety among us," she said. |
The Bolivian crisis escalated when Mr Morales expelled the US ambassador to La Paz, Philip Goldberg, accusing him of stoking anti-government sentiment. | The Bolivian crisis escalated when Mr Morales expelled the US ambassador to La Paz, Philip Goldberg, accusing him of stoking anti-government sentiment. |
Mr Goldberg has rejected the accusations, saying the expulsion was a grave error. | Mr Goldberg has rejected the accusations, saying the expulsion was a grave error. |