LA PAZ, June 20 (Xinhua) -- Bolivian police and military forces began clearing major roadblocks Saturday, hours after President Rodrigo Paz declared a nationwide state of emergency, as the government sought to restore traffic on most national routes within 48 hours.
The operation began before dawn on bridges, key road sections and corridors linking the country's main regions after more than 50 days of blockades disrupted supplies, freight transport and economic activity.
Security forces, backed by heavy machinery from the state-run Bolivian Highway Administration and other public agencies, moved to remove obstacles and reopen logistics corridors for cargo, public transport and private vehicles.
"The restoration of roads will be gradual, but we expect most routes to be operating normally again within the next 24 to 48 hours," Economy Minister Jose Gabriel Espinoza said.
Espinoza said the operations would follow rules on the gradual use of force and respect human rights and constitutional guarantees. He said areas where traffic is flowing and no violence is reported would not face additional restrictions.
The deployment came a day after the government reached an agreement with the Central Obrera Boliviana, the country's main labor union, whose leader ordered an end to pressure measures and agreed to a 90-day dialogue process.
However, some rural groups, including organizations aligned with former President Evo Morales in the Chapare region, said they would continue their protests and demand Paz's resignation.
The state of emergency, initially in force for 90 days, bans road blockades, temporarily restricts mass gatherings and allows preventive arrests in cases of noncompliance.
The crisis, which began with social and economic demands, has grown into a broader political confrontation. Business groups say the blockades have caused billions of dollars in losses, equivalent to about 5 percent of Bolivia's gross domestic product. Enditem
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