AFP: Bolivian president says he will step down

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Saturday October 18, 3:35 AM
Bolivian president says he will step down

Bolivian President Gonzalo Sanchez de Lozada agreed to step down amid spiraling social unrest, clearing the way for Vice President Carlos Mesa to succeed him, a senior ruling coalition source said.

"He will make his resignation official in a letter to Congress, and then we will move on to the succession" later Friday, the source said.

Government spokesmen would not immediately confirm or deny the report. The president was huddled with advisers and scheduled to make an address to the nation later Friday, they said.

http://sg.news.yahoo.com/031017/1/3f2ni.html

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1. US will send in troops to evacuate Americans

Breaking now on cnn.com

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2. CNN Int'l: Bolivian president to resign amid unrest

LA PAZ, Bolivia (CNN) -- Bolivian President Sanchez de Lozada is expected to resign Friday, following weeks of violent protests throughout the country, a political official said

The protests have virtually paralyzed the country, causing public transportation and many other services to grind to a halt.

U.S. forces were on their way to the troubled country to evacuate U.S. personnel, if necessary.
http://edition.cnn.com/2003/WORLD/americas/10/17/bolivia.president/index.html