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00:00There have been clashes between police and pro-Morales supporters in central Bolivia.
00:05Meanwhile in Chaparri province, around 20 soldiers have been taken hostage by those
00:10loyal to the former president Evo Morales.
00:13The Bolivian army said they had seized weapons and ammunition.
00:18Bolivian armed forces call for unity and calm in the face of the serious events that happened
00:23in Cochabamba, where illegal groups took control of military posts, kidnapping military and
00:31civic personnel.
00:33This comes after nearly three weeks of a standoff between the state and backers of Morales who
00:38have been blocking roads in the country.
00:41They are trying to prevent their former leader's arrest on rape charges, which he denies.
00:46Morales says they're aimed at thwarting his political comeback.
00:50The country's first indigenous leader called for talks with the government and said he
00:54would go on a hunger strike.
01:00To make dialogue viable, I have decided to start a hunger strike until the government
01:06establishes two roundtables.
01:09Firstly, on the economic issue, and secondly, on the political issue.
01:16Morales was unjustly detained, imprisoned and persecuted.
01:25Morales went on to call for a temporary pause in the blockades to prevent bloodshed.
01:30Protesters say they will continue if the current president, Luis Arce, sends in the military.
01:36Both men intend to run as a candidate for the ruling Maz Party in the country's presidential
01:41elections next year.