Bolivia may charge opposition leader

President Evo Morales of Bolivia faced violent protests.

LA PAZ - Bolivia's leftist government said yesterday it was preparing to charge a top leader of an autonomy movement with terrorism after violent protests in September.

The government of President Evo Morales said Branko Marinkovic, who helped lead an autonomy push by Bolivia's four richest provinces, would be charged with instigating attacks in which at least 17 people died.

"We have enough evidence in this investigation to allow us to link Mr. Marinkovic with the acts of terrorism that occurred in several parts of the country in September," government minister Alfredo Rada said.

Twenty people, including a governor and another civic leader, are behind bars for the violence, which erupted in four opposition-controlled regions when anti-Morales protesters stormed government buildings, sabotaged natural gas pipelines, and battled with the president's supporters.

Morales, Bolivia's first indigenous president, boosted his political standing through his handling of the crisis while his opponents emerged weakened.

Marinkovic, a wealthy landowner behind the autonomy movement in resource-rich Santa Cruz, did not comment on the government case. His supporters say he is a victim of political persecution.

Bolivia is South America's poorest country and has a long history of political instability.

REUTERS