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Troops arrest Bolivian governor Opposition leaves Bolivia talks
(about 4 hours later)
Bolivian troops have arrested the governor of a northern province wracked by deadly anti-government violence in recent days, state television reports. Bolivia's opposition has pulled out of negotiations with the government after the arrest of the governor of a region wracked by anti-government violence.
Leopoldo Fernandez, an opponent of President Evo Morales, is accused of backing violence in Pando in which some 16 people died. Leopoldo Fernandez, an opponent of President Evo Morales, was accused of organising an ambush in Pando in which at least 16 people were killed.
Mr Morales declared a state of emergency in Pando last weekend. Last week, Mr Morales declared a state of emergency in the northern region.
The region is among several demanding autonomy and opposing Mr Morales's plans for constitutional reform. Several areas have opposed his plans to redistribute wealth and improve the rights of Bolivia's indigenous peoples.
Government troops who took control of the state capital of Pando, Cobija, moved to detain the governor on Tuesday, according to reports. The negotiations between the Bolivian government and the opposition were always built on very flimsy foundations, says the BBC's South America correspondent, Daniel Schweimler.
Mr Fernandez put up no resistance as he was transferred to Cobija aiport, from where he would be taken to Bolivia's main city, La Paz, the Efe news agency reported. The arrest of Leopoldo Fernandez was the excuse the opposition, centred in the east of the country, needed to pull out, our correspondent adds.
Truce hope US black list
Pando is a remote northern region of Bolivia situated in the Amazon basin on the borders with Peru and Brazil. Government troops who remain in control of Pando's capital, Cobija, moved to detain the governor on Tuesday.
Mr Morales' central government accuses the regional government, headed by Mr Fernandez, of inciting civil unrest in the region. Mr Fernandez, who was arrested alongside one other local politician, reportedly put up no resistance as he was transferred to Cobija aiport before being taken to Bolivia's main city, La Paz.
The fighting led to a string of violent deaths and the disappearance of about 100 people, Efe says, prompting the president to send in troops to secure Cobija. Mr Morales wants to give more rights to Bolivia's indigenous community
The arrest came as opponents of the president Bolivia appeared to be nearing a truce with Mr Morales that could end ongoing violence. Meanwhile, the US encouraged its citizens currently in Bolivia to leave the country, saying special flights were being made available.
The governor of Tarija, in the south of Bolivia, said he expected to sign a deal with the president on Tuesday, Reuters reported. President George W Bush said Bolivia had been put on a black list of nations that failed to meet obligations to limit drug production in the past year.
On Monday, the leaders of nine South American nations backed Mr Morales at an emergency summit in Chile. Venezuela and Burma were also added to the list, inclusion on which allows the US to withhold aid payments.
Mr Morales has likened the unrest in opposition-controlled regions of his country to an attempted coup. Mr Bush said that measure would not be taken against Venezuela or Bolivia.
But the unrest, in which protesters have blocked roads and occupied public buildings, represents the most serious challenge to Mr Morales since he took office almost three years ago. Relations between La Paz and Washington deteriorated sharply last week when Mr Morales expelled the US ambassador from Bolivia.
Truce efforts
The arrest of Leopoldo Fernandez came as Bolivia sought to calm tensions after a wave of violent clashes in opposition-controlled areas that left at least 30 people dead, most in Pando.
The government accused Mr Fernandez of hiring hitmen who killed at least 16 farmers on their way to a pro-government rally.
The authorities have asked for a 30-year prison sentence if Mr Fernandez is convicted. He denies the charges.
As many as 100 people are reportedly still missing after the recent violence, the scale of which prompted the president to send in troops to secure Cobija.
The violence subsided and the blockades were lifted as the two sides began negotiations, but many opponents of the government simply do not believe the president, our correspondent says.
They blame the government and its indigenous supporters for instigating the violence, he adds.