In Bolivia, military forces tear-gassed a massive funeral procession in La Paz Thursday as supporters of ousted President Evo Morales carried coffins of slain protesters through the streets. Thousands of demonstrators were mourning the eight indigenous protesters killed by the Bolivian police and military Tuesday in El Alto. But security forces descended on the procession as it drew near the presidential palace. Coffins were left in the streets as tear gas forced the demonstrators to disperse. It was the latest act of military repression since the coup that forced Evo Morales out of office almost two weeks ago. At least 32 people have been killed by security forces in the violence that followed — mainly indigenous people. Bolivia’s ousted President Evo Morales called Wednesday for an international truth commission to investigate his ouster.
Evo Morales: “From the north, we are informed, the United States does not want me to return to Bolivia, and the right wing in Bolivia, the coup right, the massacre-led right, expressed that 'Evo can't return to Bolivia.’”
Evo Morales was speaking from Mexico, where he’s been exiled. Click here to see all our coverage of the crisis in Bolivia.