Weekly Report - 2 October 2008 (ISSN 1741-7422)

Hopes for a breakthrough in the talks between the government of President Evo Morales and the opposition prefects have once again foundered, despite initial optimism regarding an agreement [WR-08-38]. After further deadlock over the new constitution, Tarija prefect Mario Cossí­o announced that talks were “temporarily" suspended following the arrest of a Tarijan citizen, accused of instigating an attack on a gas pipeline. With interior minister Alfredo Rada declaring that the security forces are “on alert" for further possible outbreaks of violence, an immediate solution to the political crisis looks increasingly remote.