Thousands march in Bolivia during protest

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Thousands march in Bolivia during protest

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Thousands of protesters turned out on the streets in La Paz which paralysed the city.

26 April,2012 03:04 am

Thousands of Bolivians protesters turned out on the streets of La Paz on Tuesday (April 25) for the second day of a major workers strike that has paralysed the city.The demonstration by medical students, doctors and union workers caused huge disruptions in the city centre, along with several injuries and arrests. The action began the previous day with a march on government buildings, led by members of the Bolivian Workers Central union (COB).Workers want a seven percent wage increase above what President Evo Morales has offered when reforming labour laws.Some 4,000 doctors have been striking across the country for over three weeks. Local hospitals and clinics remain closed except to help with emergencies.Some workers have staged hunger strikes, while medical students also tried to get the governments attention by drawing protest signs using their own blood.Other students locked themselves inside university buildings, refusing food and drink.The protesters are asking for a new salary law to be annulled. The law 1126 expands working hours without providing social benefits.More protests and scenes of confrontation were seen in other Bolivian cities, including Cochabamba, Santa Cruz and Potosi.