A week-long Bolivian crisis finished

Five governors from the relatively wealthy eastern side of the country agreed to talks even though one was arrested by the army earlier yesterday after the leftist Morales accused him of massacring 15 peasant farmers last week.

During the protests anti-Morales groups ransacked and occupied dozens of government buildings, blocked highways and sabotaged natural gas pipelines, temporarily cutting off exports to neighboring Argentina and Brazil. A wave of violent protests left 17 dead.

That made the Bolivian president discuss opposing governors' demands for more autonomy and a greater share of state energy revenue.

The talks are scheduled to begin on Sept. 19.

Author: Ksenia Kochneva