Overview
- The government, which announced Friday it had reached an accord with miner leaders after nearly 12 hours of talks, said details will follow.
- Following Thursday's street battles in La Paz, police fired tear gas as miners set off small dynamite charges and tried to reach the presidential palace in a tactic that has become common.
- Authorities reported 67 highway blockades earlier in the week that slowed food, fuel and medicine into the capital, deepening shortages.
- Protest leaders from mining, farm, teacher and transport unions want President Rodrigo Paz to resign, though ministers say he will not step down.
- The unrest stems from a sharp economic slide linked to collapsing natural gas output, scarce dollars, rising prices and fuel lines that have left hospitals short of oxygen and medicines.