Protesters demanding right-wing leader Luis Camacho's release block highways out of the farming region with tires, branches and stones, leaving long lines of standstill traffic.

Trucks snarl Santa Cruz region as Bolivians seek Camacho's release

At least three people were killed and several wounded as <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/coca-farmers-march-police-fire-tear-gas-in-worsening-bolivia-unrest-263166">protesters clashed with</a> security forces in La Paz as the Bolivian military lifted the blockade of fuel supplies.

The protests which have gathered strength after ex-president Morales left for <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/bolivian-farmers-protest-against-interim-president-at-site-of-killings-263033">exile to Mexico</a> last week amid vote-rigging allegation in a controversial election last month has led to renewed fighting between Morales supporters and police.

On Tuesday, troops and police lifted the blockade on a fuel plant in El Alto, operated by state-run YPFB even as Morales supporters demanded his return. The authorities deployed armoured vehicles and helicopters in a bid to break the blockade which has severely hit Bolivia's economy.

Bolivia has been hit by food and fuel shortages amid the protests as the government led by interim president Jeanine Anez, 52, has insisted that free and fair election would be held shortly. However, Anez hasn't announced the date of the elections.

Morales supporters have been demanding interim President Jeanine Anez's resignation and the return of their leader.

The death toll as a result of the clashes on Tuesday climbed to 27 since the elections on October 20. Last&nbsp;Friday, nine people were killed as police clashed with protesters in the central city of Cochabamba, a coca-growing highland. On Monday, in renewed clashes again near Cochabamba police fired tear gas at Morales supporters.

Carlos Mesa an influential politician who came second in the presidential polls in October urged Anez to hold elections as soon as possible along with other ministers who want the polls since Morales' Movement to Socialism party (MAS) has a majority in the Congress.

At least three people were killed and several wounded as protesters clashed with security forces in La Paz as the Bolivian military lifted the blockade of fuel supplies.

At least three people were killed and several wounded as protesters clashed with security forces in La Paz as the Bolivian military lifted the blockade of fuel supplies. The protests which have gathered strength after ex-president Morales left for exile to Mexico last week amid vote-rigging allegation in a controversial election last month has led to renewed fighting between Morales supporters and police. On Tuesday, troops and police lifted the blockade on a fuel plant in El Alto, operated by state-run YPFB even as Morales supporters demanded his return. The authorities deployed armoured vehicles and helicopters in a bid to break the blockade which has severely hit Bolivia's economy. Bolivia has been hit by food and fuel shortages amid the protests as the government led by interim president Jeanine Anez, 52, has insisted that free and fair election would be held shortly. However, Anez hasn't announced the date of the elections. Morales supporters have been demanding interim President Jeanine Anez's resignation and the return of their leader. The death toll as a result of the clashes on Tuesday climbed to 27 since the elections on October 20. Last Friday, nine people were killed as police clashed with protesters in the central city of Cochabamba, a coca-growing highland. On Monday, in renewed clashes again near Cochabamba police fired tear gas at Morales supporters. Carlos Mesa an influential politician who came second in the presidential polls in October urged Anez to hold elections as soon as possible along with other ministers who want the polls since Morales' Movement to Socialism party (MAS) has a majority in the Congress.

At least 3 dead in Bolivia as protesters clash with security forces amid food, fuel crisis

Mexican foreign minister announced on Monday that Bolivia's ex-president Evo Morales,60, would be granted asylum as the South American nation <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/morales-exit-in-bolivia-sparks-night-of-violence-leaves-a-political-vacuum-261397">faced continued violence</a>.

"Several minutes ago I received a phone call from (former) president Evo Morales in which he responded to our offer and verbally and formally requested political asylum in our country," Foreign Minister Marcelo Ebrard said.

"The Mexican foreign ministry, after consulting Interior Minister Olga Sanchez Cordero, made the decision to grant him asylum... for humanitarian reasons," the Mexican foreign minister added.

Ebrard asserted that Morales's "life and physical integrity are at risk in Bolivia."

As events unfolded, Peru's foreign ministry said a "Mexican government plane" had been granted permission for overflight and to refuel and had departed for Bolivia at 6:30 pm (2330 MT).

Watch Video:

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As violence spread amid Morales exit, Bolivia's armed forces said it would conduct joint operations with the police to prevent violence.

Earlier, Bolivia's police chief in La Paz Colonel Jose Barrenechea had called on General Williams Kaliman to "intervene" saying the police had been "overrun" as thousands of pro-Morales supporters marched through the city even as Morales called on the opposition to "pacify the country".

"The military command of the armed forces has arranged for joint operations with the police to prevent bloodshed and fighting amongst the Bolivian family," General Williams Kaliman said in a televised address to the nation.

Morales had resigned amid controversy over election results and had called for another election even as Army commanders and the police asked Morales to step down. Morales resigned on November 10 in a televised address.

Meanwhile, Senator Jeanine Anez, 52, who is constitutionally in line to become the interim president pledged to call fresh elections. "We are going to call elections, an electoral process that reflects the will of all Bolivians," Anez said.

Mexican foreign minister announced on Monday that Bolivia's ex-president Evo Morales,60, would be granted asylum as the South American nation faced continued violence.

Mexican foreign minister announced on Monday that Bolivia's ex-president Evo Morales,60, would be granted asylum as the South American nation faced continued violence. "Several minutes ago I received a phone call from (former) president Evo Morales in which he responded to our offer and verbally and formally requested political asylum in our country," Foreign Minister Marcelo Ebrard said. "The Mexican foreign ministry, after consulting Interior Minister Olga Sanchez Cordero, made the decision to grant him asylum... for humanitarian reasons," the Mexican foreign minister added. Ebrard asserted that Morales's "life and physical integrity are at risk in Bolivia." As events unfolded, Peru's foreign ministry said a "Mexican government plane" had been granted permission for overflight and to refuel and had departed for Bolivia at 6:30 pm (2330 MT). Watch Video: As violence spread amid Morales exit, Bolivia's armed forces said it would conduct joint operations with the police to prevent violence. Earlier, Bolivia's police chief in La Paz Colonel Jose Barrenechea had called on General Williams Kaliman to "intervene" saying the police had been "overrun" as thousands of pro-Morales supporters marched through the city even as Morales called on the opposition to "pacify the country". "The military command of the armed forces has arranged for joint operations with the police to prevent bloodshed and fighting amongst the Bolivian family," General Williams Kaliman said in a televised address to the nation. Morales had resigned amid controversy over election results and had called for another election even as Army commanders and the police asked Morales to step down. Morales resigned on November 10 in a televised address. Meanwhile, Senator Jeanine Anez, 52, who is constitutionally in line to become the interim president pledged to call fresh elections. "We are going to call elections, an electoral process that reflects the will of all Bolivians," Anez said.

Morales to be granted asylum, his life at risk in Bolivia: Mexico

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/violence-in-bolivia-bolivia-mayor-attacked-during-protests-260680">Street&nbsp;clashes</a> broke out on Thursday among supporters and opponents of Bolivia's government armed with&nbsp;slingshots&nbsp;and&nbsp;dynamite&nbsp;as an opposition leader planned a march to pressure President Evo Morales to resign after disputed&nbsp;elections last month.

Luis Fernando Camacho, a civic leader from the eastern city of Santa Cruz who has become an icon of the opposition, appeared at rallies in the city earlier in the day calling for Morales to step down.

He plans to deliver a pre-written resignation letter for the leftist leader to sign, a symbolic move that has sparked an angry response from pro-government supporters and hardened the resolve of a split opposition.

"We will deliver this letter in unity. This letter is not from Santa Cruz; it is from all Bolivia and it will be approved by all&nbsp;Bolivians, because we all want to build a country with democracy and freedom," Camacho said at a rally.

It was not clear when Camacho would deliver the letter, though the government played down its significance on Thursday, saying it would be received as any other petition.

The government also slammed <a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/violent-protests-erupt-in-bolivia-against-evo-morales-260563">"shameful" violence </a>that led to scores being injured and one killed on Wednesday, blaming the&nbsp;clashes on the opposition as anger rose on both sides. A total of three people have died in the weeks-long protests.

Tens of thousands of people took to the streets of La Paz on Thursday night as&nbsp;clashes broke out.

Images and television footage from Wednesday showed groups&nbsp;clashing around the country, with particular violence in the cities of Cochabamba and La Paz. A young man was confirmed killed, while images of a local mayor having her hair forcibly cut and being covered in red paint by anti-government supporters circulated widely.

Morales, whose October&nbsp;election&nbsp;win was marred by allegations of fraud after an abrupt halt in the vote count and an unusual swing in the leftist leader's favor, again blamed the opposition for unrest as he addressed supporters in the rural area of Cochabamba.

In a press conference on Thursday, Vice President Alvaro Garcia Linera called on opposition leaders Carlos Mesa and Camacho to help stop the violence and heed an ongoing audit of the vote by the Organization of American States (OAS).

Government critics, however, pointed the finger at supporters of Morales.

Mesa, the runner-up in the October&nbsp;20 vote, who has been calling for Morales to step down, said on Twitter that a young man who died on Wednesday had been "murdered" by Morales supporters and blamed the government for stoking the violence.

Street clashes broke out on Thursday among supporters and opponents of Bolivia's government armed with slingshots and dynamite as an opposition leader planned a march to pressure President Evo Morales to resign after disputed elections last month.

Street clashes broke out on Thursday among supporters and opponents of Bolivia's government armed with slingshots and dynamite as an opposition leader planned a march to pressure President Evo Morales to resign after disputed elections last month. Luis Fernando Camacho, a civic leader from the eastern city of Santa Cruz who has become an icon of the opposition, appeared at rallies in the city earlier in the day calling for Morales to step down. He plans to deliver a pre-written resignation letter for the leftist leader to sign, a symbolic move that has sparked an angry response from pro-government supporters and hardened the resolve of a split opposition. "We will deliver this letter in unity. This letter is not from Santa Cruz; it is from all Bolivia and it will be approved by all Bolivians, because we all want to build a country with democracy and freedom," Camacho said at a rally. It was not clear when Camacho would deliver the letter, though the government played down its significance on Thursday, saying it would be received as any other petition. The government also slammed "shameful" violence that led to scores being injured and one killed on Wednesday, blaming the clashes on the opposition as anger rose on both sides. A total of three people have died in the weeks-long protests. Tens of thousands of people took to the streets of La Paz on Thursday night as clashes broke out. Images and television footage from Wednesday showed groups clashing around the country, with particular violence in the cities of Cochabamba and La Paz. A young man was confirmed killed, while images of a local mayor having her hair forcibly cut and being covered in red paint by anti-government supporters circulated widely. Morales, whose October election win was marred by allegations of fraud after an abrupt halt in the vote count and an unusual swing in the leftist leader's favor, again blamed the opposition for unrest as he addressed supporters in the rural area of Cochabamba. In a press conference on Thursday, Vice President Alvaro Garcia Linera called on opposition leaders Carlos Mesa and Camacho to help stop the violence and heed an ongoing audit of the vote by the Organization of American States (OAS). Government critics, however, pointed the finger at supporters of Morales. Mesa, the runner-up in the October 20 vote, who has been calling for Morales to step down, said on Twitter that a young man who died on Wednesday had been "murdered" by Morales supporters and blamed the government for stoking the violence.

Slingshots and dynamite as Bolivians clash over election

The Bolivian government said on Sunday it planned to agree on a deal with the Organisation of American States (OAS) within days to audit a controversial <a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/political-turmoil-deepening-in-bolivia-protests-over-alleged-electoral-fraud-258057">national election</a> that handed President Evo Morales an outright win amid allegations of vote-rigging.

Washington also weighed in with its concerns about <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/bolivias-morales-set-to-win-outright-as-disputed-vote-count-nears-completion-257985">last week's poll</a> that gave leftist Morales his fourth term in office, while main opposition rival Carlos Mesa called for a general strike in the capital of La Paz on Monday to protest the result.

"The world is watching Bolivia's institutions and leaders to ensure that the voice and will of the Bolivian people are honoured," US&nbsp;Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said in a statement on Sunday.

Bolivian Deputy Trade Minister Benjamin Blanco told state TV on Sunday that a deal with Washington-based OAS on the terms of an audit, including the selection of chief auditors, was being negotiated and should wrap up this week. The OAS said on Saturday that it expected to begin the audit mid-week.

Asked if the government would agree to enact the audit's findings, Blanco said any deal "can't contradict what's established in our constitution and national laws." Morales has said he would call a second-round run-off vote with his closest rival Carlos Mesa if the OAS' audit turned up any evidence of fraud.

Brazil, Bolivia's biggest trade partner, has said it would not recognise Morales' victory until an audit was completed. The OAS has similarly said the result could not be considered legitimate before an audit, given "serious doubts" about fairness and transparency.

Morales has repeatedly denied allegations by the right-leaning opposition that he strong-armed the Supreme Electoral Tribunal (TSE) into giving him just enough votes in Sunday's election to avoid a riskier second-round election with Mesa.

Citing "massive fraud", <a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/mesa-cries-foul-turmoil-flares-in-bolivia-after-morales-declared-official-winner-258151">Mesa called for a strike</a> in La Paz on Monday, which would intensify days of protests that have already seen electoral offices in some regions torched and large marches and strikes in major cities.

"We cannot allow authoritarianism that is increasingly turning into a dictatorship rob the people of its will," Mesa said in a video posted on Twitter on Sunday.

Morales had warned on Saturday that his rural supporters would siege cities that continue to protest his victory, alleging the opposition was stirring up unrest in a bid to unseat him illegally.

Mesa said the government was "trying to quiet the voices of the citizenry," adding "we're not afraid."

The TSE has denied vote tampering since sparking an uproar for abruptly halting publication of results from an electronic quick count of ballots that had aimed to make last Sunday's election more transparent.

With 84 per cent&nbsp;of votes counted, polling showed Morales was likely headed to a run-off with Mesa. But when the TSE resumed reporting of the quick count after a nearly 24-hour pause, Morales had pulled off a razor-thin first-round victory.

The final, legally-binding vote tally gave him 47.08 per cent&nbsp;of votes to Mesa's 35.51 per cent, less than a percentage point over the 10-point lead needed to avoid a run-off and giving him another five-year term.

Protesters say Morales had stocked the TSE and local courts with supporters as he has grown more authoritarian after nearly 14 years in office.

Morales, who denies the charges, ran again this year in defiance of term limits and a national referendum that had oppposed lifting them, after a court ruling found barring him would violate his human rights.

The Bolivian government said on Sunday it planned to agree on a deal with the Organisation of American States (OAS) within days to audit a controversial national election that handed President Evo Morales an outright win amid allegations of vote-rigging.

The Bolivian government said on Sunday it planned to agree on a deal with the Organisation of American States (OAS) within days to audit a controversial national election that handed President Evo Morales an outright win amid allegations of vote-rigging. Washington also weighed in with its concerns about last week's poll that gave leftist Morales his fourth term in office, while main opposition rival Carlos Mesa called for a general strike in the capital of La Paz on Monday to protest the result. "The world is watching Bolivia's institutions and leaders to ensure that the voice and will of the Bolivian people are honoured," US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said in a statement on Sunday. Bolivian Deputy Trade Minister Benjamin Blanco told state TV on Sunday that a deal with Washington-based OAS on the terms of an audit, including the selection of chief auditors, was being negotiated and should wrap up this week. The OAS said on Saturday that it expected to begin the audit mid-week. Asked if the government would agree to enact the audit's findings, Blanco said any deal "can't contradict what's established in our constitution and national laws." Morales has said he would call a second-round run-off vote with his closest rival Carlos Mesa if the OAS' audit turned up any evidence of fraud. Brazil, Bolivia's biggest trade partner, has said it would not recognise Morales' victory until an audit was completed. The OAS has similarly said the result could not be considered legitimate before an audit, given "serious doubts" about fairness and transparency. Morales has repeatedly denied allegations by the right-leaning opposition that he strong-armed the Supreme Electoral Tribunal (TSE) into giving him just enough votes in Sunday's election to avoid a riskier second-round election with Mesa. Citing "massive fraud", Mesa called for a strike in La Paz on Monday, which would intensify days of protests that have already seen electoral offices in some regions torched and large marches and strikes in major cities. "We cannot allow authoritarianism that is increasingly turning into a dictatorship rob the people of its will," Mesa said in a video posted on Twitter on Sunday. Morales had warned on Saturday that his rural supporters would siege cities that continue to protest his victory, alleging the opposition was stirring up unrest in a bid to unseat him illegally. Mesa said the government was "trying to quiet the voices of the citizenry," adding "we're not afraid." The TSE has denied vote tampering since sparking an uproar for abruptly halting publication of results from an electronic quick count of ballots that had aimed to make last Sunday's election more transparent. With 84 per cent of votes counted, polling showed Morales was likely headed to a run-off with Mesa. But when the TSE resumed reporting of the quick count after a nearly 24-hour pause, Morales had pulled off a razor-thin first-round victory. The final, legally-binding vote tally gave him 47.08 per cent of votes to Mesa's 35.51 per cent, less than a percentage point over the 10-point lead needed to avoid a run-off and giving him another five-year term. Protesters say Morales had stocked the TSE and local courts with supporters as he has grown more authoritarian after nearly 14 years in office. Morales, who denies the charges, ran again this year in defiance of term limits and a national referendum that had oppposed lifting them, after a court ruling found barring him would violate his human rights.

Bolivia govt close to striking deal on election audit as protests intensify

Thousands of Bolivians furious over what they saw as an attempt by leftist President Evo Morales to rig Sunday's election protested outside the hotel in the capital city of La Paz where the country's electoral board was processing remaining ballots on Tuesday (October 22).

'A giant fraud'- Protests flare over disputed Bolivia election

The government of Bolivian President Evo Morales on Tuesday (October 22) asked an official observer of the country's disputed presidential election to conduct an audit of a binding vote count after an official quick tally showing him winning sparked a backlash and violent street protests.

Unrest in Bolivia grows as observers call on government to respect vote results