MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Bolivian surrounded cities running out of fuel and food; government attempts a supply air bridge

The scene is repeated at just about every gas station in La Paz, Bolivia's administrative capital and ground zero of a red hot political crisis.

Bolivians suffered long lines on the streets of La Paz on Sunday to secure chicken, eggs and cooking fuel as supporters of ousted President Evo Morales continued to cripple the country's highways, isolating population centers from lowland farms.

In effect, buses and taxis have been queuing at gasoline stations for several days but so far the only answer has been “gas will arrive 'maybe tomorrow,' and the next day it is 'maybe tomorrow' again”.

The scene is repeated at just about every gas station in La Paz, Bolivia's administrative capital and ground zero of a red hot political crisis.

Officials said a massive Hercules military plane had touched down in the highland capital of La Paz on Saturday with a cargo full of meat products, bypassing the barricaded highways that drop down out of the city.

Presidency minister Jerjes Justiniano told reporters the government had established an “air bridge” to La Paz. He said officials hoped to do the same with other major Bolivian cities cut off from supplies.

The Andean nation erupted into crisis following the country's Oct 20 election. Then-President Morales, who won the election, resigned last Sunday after an Organization of American States audit revealed evidence of vote rigging. He fled to Mexico.

Morales' supporters took to the streets shortly after, sometimes armed with homemade bazookas, handguns and grenades, barricading roads and skirmishing with security forces.

As violence has escalated, many in the poorer regions of La Paz had taken to cooking over firewood as long lines for liquefied gas, canisters and scarce food complicated life.

Violent protests Friday around Cochabamba, a coca-growing region and stronghold of Morales' supporters, left at least nine dead, officials said.

The deaths have prompted allegations of human rights abuses by police forces.

UN envoy Jean Arnault said a team would hold meetings with politicians and social groups beginning Sunday to end the violence and push for “free and transparent elections.”