Bolivia's interim president Jeanine Anez holds the law for general election next to Eva Copa, president of Boivia's Senate at the national congress in La Paz, November 24, 2019. /VCG Photo
Protesters in Bolivia have taken down roadblocks and struck peace deals after a month of protests and clashes that have convulsed the divided nation following the disputed October election and the resignation of former president Evo Morales.
On Monday, hundreds of people in the city of Sacaba, one of the areas hit worst by violence, held a minute of silence for the 33 people who have died since the vote on October 20.
From the mountainous region of Cochabamba to de facto capital La Paz, there are signs that the worst of the violence may be over as sparring politicians and civic leaders rallied to hold new elections and pull back from confrontation.
"We are returning to normal after something so hard and so dramatic, but I think we are moving forward," said interim president Jeanine Añez on Monday. The caretaker leader had on Sunday signed into law a bill, which was passed unanimously on Saturday, to hold new elections.
Bolivia, led by Morales since 2006, went into chaos after the October election was mired in controversy as evidence grew it had been rigged in the leader's favor. Morales was eventually forced to resign amid widespread protests.
Bolivian soldiers walk past the National Congress building in La Paz, November 24, 2019. /Reuters Photo
However, Morales' November 10 resignation sparked a violent and volatile period as his supporters blockaded strategic routes to stop the flow of fuel and food to major cities and the military was mobilized on the streets against them.
The deaths since have raised pressure on Añez's interim government, with Morales backers blaming her for the violence. Añez and the military say they have not used excessive force and blame Morales, now in Mexico, for stoking the unrest.
"We have had many stumbles, but we hope that from now on we will move forward and have elections very soon," Añez added.
In Sacaba, where nine people died in clashes with security forces, a key coca farmer union boss and Morales ally said on Monday mobilized groups would now work to "pacify the country and prepare for the next election".
Andrónico Rodríguez said, however, that the interim government needed to also back down from its "radical" stance and repeated his view that Morales had been toppled.
(With input from Reuters)