Thousands of protesters in Bolivia have marched through the main city of La Paz to pressure the president to toughen a controversial new energy bill. Police prevented the mainly indigenous demonstrators from entering the central square. There were a few clashes, but the march was largely peaceful. Elsewhere, other protesters set up roadblocks on several key highways. President Carlos Mesa refuses to sign the bill into law because he considers the level of taxes unworkable. The law, already approved by Congress, would raise the taxes paid by foreign energy firms to 50% of their revenues. President Mesa is backed by business groups, but opposed by peasants, coca farmers and trade unionists, who want the bill to be made stricter. The president has until Tuesday to make a final decision, but the BBC's Elliott Gotkine in La Paz says he is looking increasingly isolated.
