Violence on streets of Bolivia

Violence continues to escalate in Bolivia creating tensions with the United States

MORE INFO:

Government officials blamed the deepening unrest on rightists who control four of the impoverished country's nine regions and are demanding a greater share of energy resources and more autonomy from the central government.

STORY:

At least three people were killed as violent anti-government protests mounted in Bolivia, creating havoc in its natural gas industry and increasing tensions with the United States.

Armed clashes broke out between rival protesters while opponents of leftist President Evo Morales occupied government buildings in the opposition stronghold of Santa Cruz for a third day.

Government officials blamed the deepening unrest on rightists who control four of the impoverished country's nine regions and are demanding a greater share of energy resources and more autonomy from the central government.

Morales, a former coca farmer and Bolivia's first indigenous president, has blamed U.S. Ambassador Philip Goldberg for the escalating protests and ordered him to leave the country.

The U.S. State Department called Morales' decision to expel Goldberg a "grave error" and said relations were "seriously damaged."

Morales is an ally of Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez, who leads a bloc of left-wing presidents in South America, and his government has clashed repeatedly with Washington.

Deborah Lutterbeck, Reuters