Bolivia Declares Emergency amid Resignation Calls

Bolivian President Rodrigo Paz declared a state of emergency on Saturday and ordered the removal of roadblocks that have paralyzed the country for 50 days. The protests have claimed at least 14 lives and caused serious disruptions to supplies of food, fuel and medicine, particularly in La Paz and neighboring El Alto.

In his speech, Paz said the roadblocks were no longer a social protest but an organized attempt to destabilize democracy. The emergency powers will allow for a broader deployment of the military.

The president maintains that the goal is not to restrict people's lives but to restore freedom of movement and supply chains.

The protests are being led by groups linked to former leftist President Evo Morales. Tensions have been fueled primarily by the elimination of long-standing fuel subsidies, a shortage of US dollars and negotiations with the International Monetary Fund. Unions are demanding higher wages, a solution to the fuel shortage and the president's resignation.

Part of the opposition supports the state of emergency, while others warn against further escalation. Morales denies organizing the unrest and calls it an "indigenous rebellion" caused by economic hardship.

(Reuters, EST)