South America

SACABA, Bolivia (AP) — Bolivia’s political crisis turned deadly after security forces opened fire on supporters of Evo Morales in a central town, killing at least five people, injuring dozens and threatening the interim government’s efforts to restore stability following the resignation of the former president in an election dispute.

Most of the dead and injured Friday in Sacaba near the city of Cochabamba suffered bullet wounds, Guadalberto Lara, director of the town’s Mexico Hospital, told The Associated Press. He called it the worst violence he’s seen in his 30-year career.

15 November 2019; AFP: Chile announced Friday it will stage a referendum to replace the country's dictatorship-era constitution -- a key demand of protesters after nearly a month of sometimes violent civil unrest.

The current charter, in force since 1980 and enacted by the former military junta of Augusto Pinochet, has been changed numerous times in the years since.

BRASILIA, Nov 15 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Five of the biggest emerging economies railed against protectionism as they vowed to overcome “significant challenges” facing multilateralism, in a swipe at US tariffs and unilateral action.

The joint declaration by BRICS countries – Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa – came on the second day of the annual gathering, which Brazilian host President Jair Bolsonaro used to boost ties with Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping.

Brasilia, Nov 14; PTI/GANASHAKTI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi held in-depth talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping here and the two leaders have agreed to maintain close contact on matters relating to trade and investment to further deepen and add new vigour to India-China relations.

During the meeting held on the margins of the 11th BRICS Summit on Wednesday, prime minister Modi said there was a "new direction and new energy" in bilateral ties after their second informal summit in Chennai last month.

MONTEVIDEO, Nov. 14 (Xinhua) -- Argentina's president-elect Alberto Fernandez on Thursday offered future political asylum to Bolivia's ex-President Evo Morales.

Speaking in Uruguay's capital Montevideo, Fernandez said that once he takes office in December, it would be "an honor" to welcome Morales to his country.

Fernandez, who was meeting with Uruguay's President Tabare Vazquez, also extended the offer of asylum to Morales' vice president.

BRASILIA, Nov. 14 (Xinhua) -- Following is the full text of the 11th BRICS Summit Brasilia Declaration released on Thursday:

BRASILIA DECLARATION

11th BRICS Summit

Preamble

1. We, the Leaders of the Federative Republic of Brazil, the Russian Federation, the Republic of India, the People's Republic of China and the Republic of South Africa met on 14 November 2019 in Brasilia, Brazil, at the Eleventh BRICS Summit, which was held under the theme "BRICS: economic growth for an innovative future".

LA PAZ, Bolivia (AP) — Bolivia’s former President Evo Morales cannot run as a candidate in any new elections, the country’s interim leader said Thursday, as supporters of the ousted president demonstrated for his return from asylum in Mexico.

“Evo: Friend, the people are with you!” shouted protesters in the city of Sacaba.

BRASILIA, Nov 14 (NNN-Xinhua) — Business leaders from the BRICS bloc of emerging economies called for stronger integration among member countries to deepen economic cooperation amid rising protectionism.

Integration “is a necessity and a historic trend, and there is no way to stop it,” Xu Lirong, a Chinese member of the BRICS Business Council, said at this year’s BRICS business forum.

La Paz, Nov 14; AFP/GANASHAKTI: Bolivia's interim president Jeanine Anez moved Wednesday to fill the power vacuum left by the resignation of Evo Morales, who said he was ready to return from exile in Mexico to "pacify" the country, as riot police clashed with his supporters and one was killed.

Anez, a 52-year-old deputy senate speaker before proclaiming herself acting president on Tuesday -- a move endorsed by the Constitutional Court -- named 11 cabinet ministers and appointed a new military high command.

LA PAZ, Bolivia (AP) — Where does the power line stand in crisis-torn Bolivia?

Jeanine Añez, the Senate leader who has claimed the interim presidency of the Andean country, seems to have the backing of the police, the military and the Roman Catholic Church.

But even in self-exile in Mexico after resigning under pressure from the armed forces, former President Evo Morales says he would be willing to return to Bolivia, and his supporters are making a show of force in the streets while his party controls a majority in both houses of Congress.