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| Bolivia regions declare autonomy | Bolivia regions declare autonomy |
| (9 minutes later) | |
| Three provinces in Bolivia have declared autonomy, protesting against constitutional reforms agreed by the government of President Evo Morales. | Three provinces in Bolivia have declared autonomy, protesting against constitutional reforms agreed by the government of President Evo Morales. |
| Santa Cruz, Beni and Pando - Bolivia's richest regions - are angry at the reforms that include greater state control of the economy. | Santa Cruz, Beni and Pando - Bolivia's richest regions - are angry at the reforms that include greater state control of the economy. |
| Another region, Tarija, is expected to follow suit. | Another region, Tarija, is expected to follow suit. |
| Security forces are on alert ahead of rallies in the four provinces. Mr Morales said the moves were "illegal". | Security forces are on alert ahead of rallies in the four provinces. Mr Morales said the moves were "illegal". |
| The regional protests coincide with a rally in La Paz, the president's stronghold, where members of the Constitutional Assembly are due to deliver the new constitution to Mr Morales. | The regional protests coincide with a rally in La Paz, the president's stronghold, where members of the Constitutional Assembly are due to deliver the new constitution to Mr Morales. |
| The constitutional reforms will be then put to a referendum later this year. | The constitutional reforms will be then put to a referendum later this year. |
| Deep splits | Deep splits |
| The provinces of Beni and Pando declared autonomy at the rallies after the wealthiest region, Santa Cruz, backed a statute on Thursday under which it would keep two-thirds of its tax revenues. | The provinces of Beni and Pando declared autonomy at the rallies after the wealthiest region, Santa Cruz, backed a statute on Thursday under which it would keep two-thirds of its tax revenues. |
| President Morales' mostly supporters are gathering in La Paz | |
| The autonomy charters will now be put to the local populations for approval. | The autonomy charters will now be put to the local populations for approval. |
| Some 400 extra police have been sent to Santa Cruz, and the army has been told to prepare to protect public buildings. | Some 400 extra police have been sent to Santa Cruz, and the army has been told to prepare to protect public buildings. |
| The moves towards autonomy come after an assembly dominated by supporters of President Evo Morales adopted the new national charter article by article last weekend. | The moves towards autonomy come after an assembly dominated by supporters of President Evo Morales adopted the new national charter article by article last weekend. |
| Mr Morales made rewriting the constitution a key part of his reform agenda to give the indigenous majority greater political power, but the issue has deepened regional and ethnic divisions in the country. | Mr Morales made rewriting the constitution a key part of his reform agenda to give the indigenous majority greater political power, but the issue has deepened regional and ethnic divisions in the country. |
| Indigenous rights | Indigenous rights |
| Low-lying Santa Cruz is the most prosperous part of South America's poorest country, having major agricultural businesses and much of Bolivia's oil and gas wealth. | Low-lying Santa Cruz is the most prosperous part of South America's poorest country, having major agricultural businesses and much of Bolivia's oil and gas wealth. |
| Will Bolivia's splits widen? | Will Bolivia's splits widen? |
| Pro-autonomy supporters object to the new constitution, which would allow consecutive five-year presidential terms, increase indigenous rights and redistribute wealth to the poorer highland areas of Bolivia. | Pro-autonomy supporters object to the new constitution, which would allow consecutive five-year presidential terms, increase indigenous rights and redistribute wealth to the poorer highland areas of Bolivia. |
| On Thursday, Mr Morales called for dialogue, but warned that the unity of Bolivia was inviolable. | On Thursday, Mr Morales called for dialogue, but warned that the unity of Bolivia was inviolable. |
| "The unity of the country is untouchable, it is not up for discussion. There is no referendum to be held on the country's unity," Mr Morales said. | "The unity of the country is untouchable, it is not up for discussion. There is no referendum to be held on the country's unity," Mr Morales said. |
| There were frequent demonstrations - both for and against - during the debate over constitutional reforms, with protests sometimes turning violent. | There were frequent demonstrations - both for and against - during the debate over constitutional reforms, with protests sometimes turning violent. |