Bolivia leader calls for referendum

Opponents of Morales say he is trying to impose authoritarian rule on the South American nation [EPA] Evo Morales, the president of Bolivia, has called for a nationwide referendum to decide whether he and nine regional governors should remain in their posts. Six of the country's nine regions are controlled by his political opponents. Morales said on Wednesday: "If the people say 'Evo's going', I've got no problem. I am democratic. "The people will say who's going and who's staying to guarantee this process of change." He said he would send a bill to congress on Thursday to call the referendum vote. Morales did not provide more details on the referendum or the questions voters would be asked. Allies of the president hold a majority in the lower house of congress, but not in Bolivia's senate. Deepening crisis Bolivia's constitutional changes are at the centre of a power struggle between him and his opponents, concentrated in lowland areas, that are also home to large natural gas fields. Those opposed to Morales' attempted reforms, shut down large parts of the country last week in a strike after a draft of the constitution was passed in an elected constitutional assembly boycotted by the opposition. That vote triggered violent protests in the southern city of Sucre, the seat of the assembly, killing at least three people. As Morales made his announcement, four provincial governors were visiting the Organisation of American States (OAS) in Washington to criticise the actions of the Morales administration. David Choquehuanca, Bolivia's foreign minister, rejected mediation by the OAS, and Morales said the conflict should be settled at home. He said: 'It's not about complaining outside the country, but about submitting ourselves to the will of the people."