Natural gas-rich Tarija became the fourth Bolivian state to declare autonomy from the government of leftist President Evo Morales when voters backed greater independence in a referendum, according to two private quick counts of votes.

Protesters shut down a pipeline delivering Bolivian gas to Argentina last night as two rival Bolivian provinces struggled for control of a valuable natural gas field, officials said.

A flatbed truck drove off the side of the mountain road in Bolivia, killing at least 38 people.

BOLIVIA yesterday declared martial law in the city of El Alto to quell bloody protests in which 16 people were killed following a proposal to export gas to the United States and Mexico.