LA PAZ — Faced with spreading civil unrest, Bolivian President Evo Morales rescinded a government decree that significantly raised fuel prices and provoked violent protests that left 15 people injured.
Vice President Alvaro Garcia issued the decree on Sunday removing subsidies that keep fuel prices artificially low but cost the Bolivian government an estimated 380 million dollars per year.
As a result fuel prices went up by as much as 83 percent in the sharpest increases since 1991.
"Answering to the wishes of the people, we have decided to rescind Decree number 748 and other measures that accompanied it," Morales told reporters at the presidential palace.
"These decisions will not take effect," the president added. "There is no justification for raising transportation fares or food prices right now. Nor do we want to fuel speculation."
Earlier in the day, Morales decided to cancel his trip to Brazil for the inauguration of that country's new president, a government official told AFP.
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