LA PAZ (Reuters) -Bolivian president on Wednesday called for the end of costly highway blockades that have paralyzed parts of the country and fueled an increasingly volatile conflict with his main political rival.
The blockades' economic costs over 17 days total over $1.7 billion, President Luis Arce said in a message to the nation.
According to the president, 70 people, including 61 police officers, have also been injured in the blockades, organized by supporters of former leader Evo Morales.
"We demand the immediate lifting of all blockade points for the re-establishment of normalcy in our country," Arce said, adding that the government will implement the necessary measures to safeguard Bolivians if protesters don't follow that request.
Arce's conference is his latest attempt to curb the growing tensions in the country, as Morales supporters have blocked key highways and prevented the delivery of food and fuel, particularly in the center of the country, the Cochabamba tropics.
Coca growers, peasants and miners, the demonstrator's bulk, have also clashed with security forces that were trying to clear the obstacles from the roads.
Morales told Reuters on Monday that Arce's government was behind an alleged gun attack on his convoy, lashing out at what he called a "dark plot to destroy" him.
Arce's government denied the accusations that it had led an attack on Morales, calling it "theater" and claiming that the former leader's convoy had instead fired on special anti-narcotics police who were carrying out a patrol.
(Reporting by Daniel Ramos and Aida Pelaez-Fernandez; Editing by Brendan O'Boyle)
