BOLIVIA:Bolivian president Evo Morales and governors who led a violent rebellion against his socialist reforms agreed late on Tuesday on a road map to end a week-long political crisis in the country.
The governors pledged to end occupations of government buildings after a wave of violent protests left 17 dead last week, while Mr Morales said he would discuss their demands for more autonomy and a greater share of state energy revenue.
Five governors from the relatively wealthy eastern side of the country agreed to talks, even though one was arrested by the army earlier on Tuesday after Mr Morales accused him of massacring 15 peasant farmers last week.
"If we want to return calm to the regions, let's sign this document. The government did it, the governors must too. Not signing means violence, confrontation, aggression and a greater divide between Bolivians," said vice-president Alvaro Garcia.
Eastern Bolivia erupted in violent anti-Morales protests last week and the president declared martial law in the remote region of Pando and arrested its governor, Leopoldo Fernandez. The attorney general said Mr Fernandez would be investigated on accusations of genocide in the case of the 15 pro-Morales peasants, who were killed last Thursday.
During the protests, anti-Morales groups ransacked and occupied dozens of government buildings, blocked highways and sabotaged natural gas pipelines, temporarily cutting off exports to neighbouring Argentina and Brazil.
Bolivia is the poorest country in South America and its biggest source of revenue is natural gas, which is pumped out of the eastern lowlands.
- (Reuters)