Politics Supporters of Bolivia's ex-president Morales occupy barracks

During protests in Bolivia, supporters of former President Evo Morales have occupied three military barracks and injured dozens of police officers in street battles, according to government sources. Soldiers and their families are being held hostage by gunmen in the barracks, President Luis Arce wrote on his social media. He did not give an exact number of people being held there. Following 19 days of road blockades in the South American country, the police had previously taken action against the demonstrators in the central Bolivian region of Cochabamba. Tear gas was used.

The indigenous Morales governed the South American country from 2006 to 2019. The conflict between former party colleagues Morales and Arce is coming to a head ahead of next year's presidential election. Morales wants to stand again in the vote, although the Constitutional Court has banned him from running again. His supporters have been protesting for weeks. Morales is trying to use the protests to push through an unconstitutional candidacy, among other things, said the incumbent President Arce.

After the street battles on Friday, Morales announced his intention to start a hunger strike. He asked his supporters to consider whether the street blockades should be continued. A few days ago, Morales had blamed the government for an alleged assassination attempt against him. Interior Minister Eduardo Del Castillo rejected the accusations.

SDA