Police and protesters clash in Bolivia; operation to clear road leaves 20 injured

Bolivian police clashed with protesters in San Julián, Santa Cruz, on Saturday as authorities attempted to clear a road blockade maintained by farmers demanding President Rodrigo Paz's resignation. The operation, involving anti-riot police and military vehicles, deployed tear gas, but protesters responded with stones, sticks, and burning tires, escalating the confrontation.

The unrest has gripped Bolivia for over a month, with various groups, including farmers, miners, and workers, blocking roads. They accuse the center-right president of failing to resolve the nation's worst economic crisis in four decades. The blockade in San Julián is strategically important, as the route is vital for transporting food to western regions.

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six police officers were injured, four with impacts of "firearms"

During the clashes, six police officers were injured, with four sustaining "firearm" wounds, according to Santa Cruz police chief Col. David Gómez. They are receiving hospital treatment. The Ombudsman's Office reported separately that 14 civilians were also injured. A motorcycle was seen burning amidst the confrontation.

President Paz, in office for only six months, is seeking parliamentary approval for a state of exception law to grant the military broader powers to lift blockades. Nearly a hundred roads are currently cut off, leading to severe shortages of food, medicine, and fuel in La Paz, El Alto, and other cities. The Bolivian government, supported by the U.S. and regional allies, blames former leftist President Evo Morales for instigating the protests.

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