Mesa Sets Election Date

Bolivia’s President Carlos Mesa called elections for a constituent assembly that will decide on calls for greater regional autonomy and changes to a hydrocarbon law. The elections will take place October 16. Last week thousands of protesters marched through the streets of La Paz and blocked highways with tree trunks, boulders and flaming tires to pressure for a constituent assembly, higher taxes on oil and gas output and nationalization of the hydrocarbon industry.