Riots in Bolivia Leave 17 Dead, 100 Injured

Striking police and furious civilians clashed with Bolivian troops Wednesday, touching off riots and looting that plunged this administrative capital into chaos. At least 17 people were killed and 100 injured, and seven buildings were left in flames.

Soldiers fired tear gas, rubber bullets and ammunition at the striking police officers and civilian demonstrators, who stormed into the presidential palace to protest proposals to raise taxes and cut spending on social programs.

As smoke from fires swirled through La Paz’s historic center, President Gonzalo Sanchez de Lozada gave a nationally televised speech appealing for calm and announcing that he would suspend plans for tax hikes.

“I plead with all Bolivians to put an end to the violence and to begin honest negotiations,” he said. “I ask one more thing from our father above -- God save Bolivia.”

The plans had included abolishing sales tax rebates to clamp down on fraud and slashing the nation’s deficit in a bid for International Monetary Fund aid. The government is struggling to end five years of recession.

As the president withdrew all troops from the historic center, protesters set fire to seven government buildings that burned throughout the night as the city’s firefighters abandoned their posts and joined the protests.

Demonstrations then turned into looting. Before thousands of cheering onlookers, protesters tossed computers and books from the windows of the government buildings.

A large cheer came as protesters eased a large oak desk out a fifth-story window. The cheers turned to screams as the desk landed squarely on a man walking below.

“I’ve been a doctor here for 30 years, and I’ve never seen such a bloody day,” said Eduardo Chavez, director of the capital’s main public hospital.