One Dead, 15 Wounded in Bolivian Protest

http://www.guardian.co.uk/worldlatest/story/0,1280,-2941267,00.html



MONTERO, Bolivia (AP) - Police and soldiers
clashed with villagers during a protest Tuesday to
force the government to pave a road in western
Bolivia, killing one person and injuring 15 others,
authorities said.

About 4,000 villagers forced an oil pipeline to shut
down and blocked access to oil wells. The
villagers want the government to pave a road
through Santa Rosa, a poor town where
international oil companies have drilled for years.

Gunfire erupted during the clashes, leaving one
villager dead. In addition, eight villagers, five police
officers and two soldiers were injured, said
presidential spokesman Mauricio Antesana.

Some villagers were armed with machetes, rocks,
sticks and shotguns. Officials were investigating
who fired first.