Bolivian President Evo Morales flees food price protest
17:40, 11 February 2011
LONDON. February 11. KAZINFORM Bolivian President Evo Morales has abandoned a public event in the face of an angry protests over food shortages and price rises; Kazinform refers to BBC News.
Mr Morales was due to address a parade to commemorate a colonial-era uprising in the mining city of Oruro.
But he and his team left the city to avoid a violent demonstration by miners throwing dynamite.
There have also been protests in other Bolivian cities over the shortage of sugar and other basic foodstuffs.
Mr Morales cut short his visit and returned to La Paz after protesters set off explosions close to where he was preparing to give a speech in Oruro, the capital of his home province in western Bolivia.
"The government took the decision not to respond to shameful provocations of this kind," presidential spokesman Ivan Canelas said; Kazinform cites BBC News.
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