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Bolivia Braces for General Strike After Vote Chaos

Agence France-Presse

   LA PAZ - Bolivia braced for a general strike on Tuesday hours after
   violence broke out in several cities when the main opposition candidate
   rejected presidential election results that seemed set to hand a
   controversial victory to long-time incumbent Evo Morales.

   Opposition supporters reacted with fury, torching electoral offices in
   the southwestern cities of Sucre and Potosi, while rival supporters
   clashed in the capital La Paz.

   Incidents were reported in cities across the South American country.

   Carlos Mesa, who came a close second to Morales in Sunday's polls--
   forcing a run-off, according to preliminary results-- denounced revised
   results released by election authorities as a "fraud."

   "We are not going to recognize those results that are part of a
   shameful, consumated fraud, that is putting Bolivian society in a
   situation of unnecessary tension," said Mesa.

   International monitors from the Organization of American States voiced
   "deep concern" at sudden changes to the election count to show Morales
   closing in on an outright victory in the first round.

   Preliminary results released late Sunday showed neither Morales, 59,
   nor 66-year-old Mesa with a majority and "clearly indicated a second
   round," the OAS mission said.

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