The World : Bolivia Lifts State of Siege

Bolivia lifted a state of siege imposed three months ago by President Victor Paz Estenssoro to halt a crippling protest strike. During the state of siege, the government arrested about 1,200 union leaders, confining more than 200 of them in remote jungle regions for two weeks, and the military restored transportation and communication services. The strike had been called to protest economic austerity measures that froze public sector wages, removed subsidies on basic food items and sharply devalued the Bolivian peso.