Soldiers hunt rebel governor (Bolivia)

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Source: News.com.AU


SOLDIERS were hunting a rebel governor in Bolivia today as President Evo Morales struggled to assert his authority over opposition regions amid worsening unrest.

The troops had orders to arrest Leopoldo Fernandez, governor of the northern state of Pando, for refusing to accept martial law that Mr Morales imposed on his territory, presidential minister Juan Ramon Quintana said.

Pando has been the scene of the worst violence so far in a week of upheaval in Bolivia, with at least 16 people killed there in armed clashes between peasants supporting Morales and anti-government protesters.

Another two people, a soldier and a civilian, were killed on Saturday when 100 troops flew in to retake the state's principal airport in the town of Cobija from protesters, authorities said.

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