At least 3 killed in clash near Bolivian fuel plant

The deaths were caused by gunshots while over 30 people injured in this incident. Twenty-seven people have been killed in unrest since the October 20 election. An interim government says it wants to organize new elections, but it faces fierce opposition from Morales’ camp.

El Alto: Three people were killed when police and soldiers on Tuesday escorted gasoline tankers from a major Bolivian fuel plant that had been blockaded for five days by supporters of former president Evo Morales.

The public defender’s office and the ombudsman’s office also reported 30 people injured but said the circumstances of the deaths and injuries hadn’t been determined.

An Associated Press journalist in the area heard shooting near the fuel plant. Smoke rose from fires set by protesters and a military helicopter was seen flying over the area.

Security forces stand by barricades constructed by supporters of former President Evo Morales along the road leading to the state-own Senkata filling gas plant in El Alto on the outskirts of La Paz, Bolivia on Tuesday.

The military said in a statement that the operation to move the fuel from El Alto to the nearby capital of La Paz was peaceful. Defence minister Fernando Lopez said later that troops did not use firearms in the operation.

Ombudsman Nadia Cruz said the deaths were caused by gunshots. She called for the interim government to withdraw troops from policing operations to reduce violence.

Supporters of former President Evo Morales clash with security forces in El Alto on the outskirts of La Paz, Bolivia on Tuesday.

Some Bolivian cities have reported food and gasoline shortages because of demonstrations by pro-Morales groups.

Víctor Hugo Zamora, the hydrocarbons minister, told that 23 tanker trucks were able to load on fuel at the plant.

Mass protesters erupted in La Paz over a disputed election in which his opponents believe he rigged the vote count, on Tuesday.

Morales resigned on November 10 following weeks of mass protesters over a disputed election in which his opponents believe he rigged the vote count. He left for asylum in Mexico.

Twenty-seven people have been killed in unrest since the October 20 election. An interim government says it wants to organize new elections, but it faces fierce opposition from Morales’ camp.

Soldiers guard the state-own Senkata filling gas plant in El Alto, on Tuesday.

A UN envoy and church groups are trying to broker dialogue among Bolivia’s factions.

The Organization of American States said on Tuesday that new elections should be held as soon as possible with mechanisms that ensure the process is fair. Prior to Morales’ resignation, the OAS conducted an audit that found irregularities in the Oct. 20 vote.

Security forces guard the state-own Senkata filling gas plant in El Alto, on the outskirts of La Paz, Bolivia on Tuesday.

There have to be basic guarantees so that a situation like the one that happened in the last elections don’t occur again, OAS representative Rodolfo Piza said after meeting with Jeanine Áñez, Bolivia’s self-proclaimed interim president.