Protesters block roads ahead of Bolivia vote

BOLIVIA: Protesters blocked highways in eastern Bolivia with burning tires and mounds of dirt late on Saturday to protest a controversial autonomy referendum in gas-rich Santa Cruz.

Reuters photographers said roads had been blocked leading into the communities and residents had pledged not to allow anybody to vote in the Sunday referendum. Earlier, peasant farmers in the Yapacani district blocked highways to prevent local authorities from setting up polling stations.

The autonomy referendum in Santa Cruz is splitting the country between its poor western highlands, loyal to leftist President Evo Morales, and the wealthy, conservative eastern lowlands.

Santa Cruz, Sunday, Reuters