Bolivia 41 die in three weeks of protests
Embattled President Gonzalo Sanchez de Lozada of Bolvia insisted Monday that he would not resign in the face of protests that have left 41 people dead in three weeks.
Sanchez de Lozada earlier called the emergency meeting of his cabinet and military leaders Monday as bloody protests against his government spread.
Two more people were killed in protests Monday in the city of El Alto. And three civilians were injured Monday as demonstrators swarmed the streets of the capital including many who came in from El Alto to rally, many wielding truncheons.
All told, violent street protests left 30 people dead in fewer than 48 hours between Sunday and Monday. Earlier, Sanchez de Lozada announced that Bolivia would not export natural gas to new markets until after a thorough public debate on the matter through December 31.
In an about-face, the president said 'Bolivians and the organizations of civil society' should have a chance to weigh in before the construction of a five-billion-dollar pipeline to carry Bolivian natural gas to the Pacific through Chile takes place.
Protesters complain that under current law Bolivia, the poorest country in South America, would get only 18% of the profits from the project.
