Violent clashes erupted in Bolivia's capital on Thursday as police used tear gas to disperse thousands of miners who set off dynamite charges near the government palace. The miners, demanding labour reforms and fuel, later chanted for the resignation of President Rodrigo Paz.
The unrest marks a second week of nationwide protests that have paralysed La Paz. Earlier in the day, rural schoolteachers marched through the city centre demanding higher wages, further tightening the grip on the capital.
The wave of protests was initially triggered by farmers opposing a law that permitted land mortgaging. Although President Paz signed a decree annulling the law on Wednesday night and called for an end to the unrest, demonstrations have continued to spread.
President Paz was sworn in late last year, ushering in a new era after nearly 20 years of one-party rule. The growing social unrest now poses a significant challenge to his administration.
