Deadly protests rage in Bolivia

LA PAZ, Bolivia — Angry civilians joined striking police officers in a protest that degenerated into riots, leaving at least 14 people dead and Bolivian government buildings in flames.

The violence in La Paz began when 7,000 striking police officers and civilian protesters clashed with government troops over plans by President Gonzalo Sanchez de Lozada to introduce a new income tax.

Rioters set seven buildings on fire, and troops used rubber bullets and tear gas to battle the demonstrators. The fighting subsided after five hours, but sporadic gunfire continued through the night.

Officials said late Wednesday that 14 people had been killed and at least 100 others injured.

Sanchez de Lozada escaped in an ambulance from the besieged presidential palace and gave a televised speech in which he suspended the tax increase and ordered the withdrawal of government troops.

"I plead with all Bolivians to put an end to the violence and to begin honest negotiations," Sanchez de Lozada said. "I ask one more thing from our father above — God save Bolivia."

The riots appeared to be protests that had spiraled out of control and there was no sign that they threatened government stability. But with no police force, the president's call to peace had little effect as the city descended into chaos.

Police officers dressed in green fatigues seized the foreign ministry, firing tear gas in support of the demonstrators who laid siege to the presidential palace across the square.

A steady stream of ambulances sped through the city, carrying the injured to hospitals and calling on citizens to replenish depleted blood banks.

Fatigued nurses and doctors formed a human chain to keep grieving family members from forcing their way into the city's emergency rooms, surgery wards and morgue.

"I've been a doctor here for 30 years and I've never seen such a bloody day," said Eduardo Chavez, the director of the city's largest hospital.

Fires at seven government buildings raged as the city's firefighters abandoned their posts and joined the police in the protests. The buildings were still smoldering well after dark Wednesday.

Inmates set the city's largest jail on fire and attempted a mass escape. Soldiers fired bullets at convicts trying to crawl to freedom on the jail's roof.

Then looting began. Thousands pooled in the streets below the city's largest department store, as looters hurled boxes of goods from windows.