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GV INTERIOR C.O.B. meeting and C.U. of Lechin listening to questions (2 shots)
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CU Lechin speaking in Spanish with members listening (4 shots)
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CU Overthrown President Walter Guevara Arze entering house garden and talks with reporters and invites them to news conference
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SV Newsmen at conference
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CU Arze speaking at news conference in Spanish
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SV Arze speaking in English
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ARZE: "I would like to explain in English what we are doing now. We are sending to our Congress, which is in a very difficult position I would say, a message telling them about the economic situation and how this ]groups of people who are staining the government will have to try to solve the economic problems that lie here."




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Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: Bolivia's armed forces leaders have met with representatives of Parliament and the Labour Movement to try top settle the present impasse following the overthrow of civilian President Walter Guevara Arze. Both the Central labour Organisation (COB) and Parliament have refused to accept Colonel Alberto Natusch as Bolivia's new military ruler. Colonel natusch took power on November the first in a coup which later led to two hundred people being killed in street fighting.

SYNOPSIS: The Central Labour Organisation reacted to the Coup by staging an immediate general strike, but this was called off after a number of protestors died in clashes with troops. C.O.B General Secretary Juan Lechin announcement that instead there would be a series of lightning strikes.

He said one of the reasons why the general strike had failed was because the working classes were acting without direction. He said this was the result of recent events in Bolivia.

Former Civilian President, Walter Guevara Arze, the man overthrown in the coup, has refused to resign and claims to be heading a government in hiding.

At a news conference called after the coup, thee former President said he noted with satisfaction that Bolivia had not yet bowed to its present circumstance. He also referred to International criticism of the military take-over.

The former President then made it clear that although he had been toppled he was maintaining contact with bolivia's Congress. He said he'd sent a warning about the country's economic situation.