SATURDAY

A COURT yesterday sentenced a former army general to life in prison and three ex-state agents to 20 or 25 years for crimes against humanity committed in a notorious torture centre during Argentina’s military dictatorship.

President Evo Morales easily won re-election, according to unofficial results, getting an overwhelming mandate for further revolutionary change on behalf of Bolivia’s long-suppressed indigenous majority.

THE young Tipperary man shot dead by police in a Bolivian hotel was being investigated by the authorities there prior to his death, the country’s ambassador has told an inquest into his death.

AS the family of the Tipperary man accused of plotting to murder the President of Bolivia prepare to bury him later today, it has emerged two more men have been arrested in the south American country in relation to the alleged plot.

Bolivian President Evo Morales has announced that a hotly disputed draft constitution will be put to voters in a referendum.

Evo Morales, the leftist claiming victory in Bolivia’s presidential race, stayed true to his coca-growing roots yesterday by repeating promises to stop the US-backed eradication of coca, saying the crop that provides the raw material for cocaine is part of Bolivian culture.

VENEZUELAN President Hugo Chavez blamed free market policies promoted by the US for the crisis in Bolivia, and said Latin America would no longer accept such “poisonous” economic doctrines.

Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez blamed free market policies promoted by the US for the crisis in Bolivia, and said Latin America would no longer accept such “poisonous” economic doctrines.

THE commander of Bolivia's armed forces pledged yesterday to safeguard the country's democracy, urging politicians poised to elect a successor to President Carlos Mesa to act "serenely" to end Bolivia's growing political crisis.

LAWMAKERS planned an emergency session to fill a power vacuum after the president's resignation, hoping to quell violent street protests by a poor Indian majority intent on wresting power from the wealthy white ruling class.

Bolivians have gone to the polls for a referendum that the president hopes will give the impoverished nation guidance on what to do with its £45bn (€67.7bn)-plus natural gas reserves – South America’s second-richest after Venezuela.

Bolivia’s history has been shaped in large part by its geography of jungles and high mountains, and in modern times by cocaine.

Aston Villa’s Nolberto Solano scored a spectacular free-kick as hosts Peru fought back from 2-0 down to earn a 2-2 draw with Colombia in Group A of the Copa America.

Substitute Roberto Palacios scored four minutes from time to rescue a point for Peru in their opening Copa America Group A match against Bolivia in Lima.

New Bolivian President Carlos Mesa proposed holding early elections after he was sworn in, hours after his predecessor was forced out by weeks of bloody street protests set off by a plan to export natural gas to the US.

FIREFIGHTERS and villagers raced last night to unearth up to 400 Bolivians feared trapped under a mass of red clay, rocks and rubble after a landslide hit their village.

Striking police officers and civilian protesters clashed with government troops, leaving at least 17 people dead and another 100 injured as protesters set fire to seven government buildings and looted department stores.

US-educated millionaire Gonzalo Sanchez de Lozada has been chosen as Bolivia’s president for his second, non-consecutive term.