At least 8 people are dead as violent anti-government protests continue in Bolivia.

The deaths were all reported in the Amazon region of Pando. Almost the all of the eastern half of the country is caught up in the fighting, and the southeastern gas-rich city of Tarija was the scene of particularly violent clashes.

The latest round of violence stems from Bolivian President Evo Morales' call for a December 7th national referendum on reforms to the National Constitution, which will grant more land rights to the poor. The president's plan received strong opposition from the those rightists in control of four impoverished regions. The group is demanding greater autonomy and energy revenue.

And on Wednesday, Bolivian President Evo Morales requested the US ambassador to Bolivia, Philip Goldberg, to leave the country immediately. Morales accused him of "heading the division" inside Bolivia by encouraging, together with the opposition, protests against his government.

(CCTV September 13, 2008)