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Bolivia airport row turns violent Bolivian troops 'avoid clashes'
(about 3 hours later)
Bolivian security forces have taken control of the nation's busiest airport as a dispute over landing fees takes on a wider political significance. Bolivian troops have withdrawn from the country's busiest airport to avoid new clashes with hundreds of citizens, the authorities have said.
Local residents have been marching towards the site to protest against the military occupation.
The troops were sent in after staff at Santa Cruz airport detained a US plane to demand that fees be paid locally rather than to the federal authorities.The troops were sent in after staff at Santa Cruz airport detained a US plane to demand that fees be paid locally rather than to the federal authorities.
Hundreds of people then tried to storm the airport, but were forced back as troops and riot police fired tear gas. Correspondents say security has worsened in recent weeks in Santa Cruz.
Gas-rich Santa Cruz province wants autonomy from the central government. However, the Associated Press news agency reported that the troops had only withdrawn to a military area inside the airport as a conciliatory gesture, and that government officials had claimed the army was not backing down.
Federal officials are running the Viru Viru airport in Santa Cruz and say flights are operating normally despite the protests. 'Commander'
However, the province's governor, Ruben Costas, has called on people to turn out in huge numbers on Friday to wrest back control of the facility. The protesters were responding to a call from the province's governor, Ruben Costas, for people to turn out in huge numbers on Friday to wrest back control of the airport.
Security forces pushed back the protesters from the airport gates
"We need 20,000 to 50,000 people awaiting orders from the only commander in this town, who is me," said Mr Costas, one of the fiercest opponents of Bolivian President Evo Morales."We need 20,000 to 50,000 people awaiting orders from the only commander in this town, who is me," said Mr Costas, one of the fiercest opponents of Bolivian President Evo Morales.
The gas-rich province is seeking autonomy from the federal government.
Security forces pushed back the protesters from the airport gates
On Thursday Mr Morales defended the action of troops who had fired tear gas at hundreds of protesters as they tried to storm the airport.
He said it was unacceptable that airport workers had tried to force airlines to pay landing fees to the local, rather than federal, authorities.
Federal officials are running the Viru Viru airport in Santa Cruz and say flights are operating normally despite the protests.
The crisis began when airport workers held up an American Airlines plane bound for Miami on Tuesday, demanding that landing fees be paid on the spot rather than passed on to the federal aviation authorities.The crisis began when airport workers held up an American Airlines plane bound for Miami on Tuesday, demanding that landing fees be paid on the spot rather than passed on to the federal aviation authorities.
Mr Morales said he had ordered the military intervention to prevent the airport losing its good reputation.Mr Morales said he had ordered the military intervention to prevent the airport losing its good reputation.
This in turn brought several hundred people to the airport, who tried to break through the gates but were forced back by the troops.This in turn brought several hundred people to the airport, who tried to break through the gates but were forced back by the troops.
The airport " has been stolen by the government using army troops," one protester told the Associated Press news agency. The airport "has been stolen by the government using army troops," one protester told AP.
The local airport authority used to appoint its own directors, but three months ago federal officials installed their own person to lead the agency, AP reported. The local airport authority used to appoint its own directors, but three months ago federal officials installed their own person to lead the agency, AP said.
The airport crisis is part of a long-running dispute between local leaders in Santa Cruz and the central government of President Morales.The airport crisis is part of a long-running dispute between local leaders in Santa Cruz and the central government of President Morales.
The province has rich farmlands and is the centre of Bolivia's energy industry.The province has rich farmlands and is the centre of Bolivia's energy industry.
Santa Cruz leaders want autonomy from the central authorities and a bigger share of natural gas revenues.Santa Cruz leaders want autonomy from the central authorities and a bigger share of natural gas revenues.
They also oppose attempts by President Morales to nationalise key industries and redistribute land.They also oppose attempts by President Morales to nationalise key industries and redistribute land.