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Bolivian Police Fire Tear Gas as President, Opposition Wrestle over Election
Audit

Reuters

   LA PAZ/SANTA CRUZ - Protests over a disputed presidential election
   convulsed Bolivia on Tuesday as police fired tear gas in the capital
   and the sitting president and opposition candidate wrestled over an
   audit of the results.

   The brief suspension of publication of the results from an electronic
   count of the Oct. 20 presidential election has triggered protests and
   strikes that have closed roads, schools and businesses around the
   nation for more than a week.

   President Evo Morales, a leftist seeking a fourth term, was eventually
   declared the winner, prompting accusations of fraud from opposition
   candidate Carlos Mesa and his supporters.

   In La Paz, opposition protesters mounted road barricades of rope,
   wooden boards and sheets of metal. Rows of helmet-clad riot police
   lined some streets, separating Morales' supporters from protesters
   opposed to the president.

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