La Paz - The secretary-general of the Organization of American States (OAS) arrived in La Paz Friday and stressed the organization's
support to pacify growing unrest in Bolivia's troubled eastern crescent that has centred on income from natural
gas and on provincial autonomy. Clashes between government supporters and the opposition claimed an estimated 15 lives in Pando last week as angry opponents of Morales occupied national telephone and tax collection offices and cut off gas line feeds to Brazil.
Five of Bolivia's nine provinces are controlled by the opposition to Morales.
"We only bring a message of support, solidarity and good will to help in whatever is requested of us," Insulza said after meeting Bolivian Foreign Minister David Choquehuanca.
The dialogue between left-wing populist Bolivian President Evo Morales and the provinces controlled by the opposition was set to conclude Saturday, with a view to putting an end to an escalation in violence that has claimed several lives.
"The dialogue is fragile, very fragile," warned Tarija Governor Mario Cossio, the main negotiator for the opposition in talks with the government.
However, an official in the Morales administration told Deutsche Presse-Agentur
