Police clash with ex-president Morales' supporters in Bolivia

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00:00There have been clashes between police and pro-Morales supporters in central Bolivia.

00:05Meanwhile in Chaparri province, around 20 soldiers have been taken hostage by those

00:10loyal to the former president Evo Morales.

00:13The Bolivian army said they had seized weapons and ammunition.

00:18Bolivian armed forces call for unity and calm in the face of the serious events that happened

00:23in Cochabamba, where illegal groups took control of military posts, kidnapping military and

00:31civic personnel.

00:33This comes after nearly three weeks of a standoff between the state and backers of Morales who

00:38have been blocking roads in the country.

00:41They are trying to prevent their former leader's arrest on rape charges, which he denies.

00:46Morales says they're aimed at thwarting his political comeback.

00:50The country's first indigenous leader called for talks with the government and said he

00:54would go on a hunger strike.

01:00To make dialogue viable, I have decided to start a hunger strike until the government

01:06establishes two roundtables.

01:09Firstly, on the economic issue, and secondly, on the political issue.

01:16Morales was unjustly detained, imprisoned and persecuted.

01:25Morales went on to call for a temporary pause in the blockades to prevent bloodshed.

01:30Protesters say they will continue if the current president, Luis Arce, sends in the military.

01:36Both men intend to run as a candidate for the ruling Maz Party in the country's presidential

01:41elections next year.

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