In Bolivia, strike fails to shut down the nation

[Quetzal]

In Bolivia, strike fails to shut down the nation

LA PAZ - A national strike called for this week began with a whimper Monday, providing a short-term boost for Bolivias beleaguered President Carlos Mesa.

The Bolivian Workers Union and a contingent of Aymara Indians managed to march through downtown La Paz at noontime, forcing the diversion of traffic, but that was a far cry from the strikes original goal of shutting down the capital and the two-lane highways leading into it.

''The publics response has been a clear rejection,'' Foreign Minister Juan Ignacio Siles told The Herald. ``A strike only creates uncertainty and a lack of confidence in the countrys future. People want to work in peace and tranquility. The extremists dont have much support.''

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