Bolivia’s legislature passes law allowing use of troops against protesters

Bolivia's legislature passed a law granting President Rodrigo Paz authority to use the military to clear roadblocks set up by antigovernment protesters. The law, already approved by the Senate, allows soldiers to use force and grants them a 'presumption of legality'. Farmers, miners, and transportation unions are leading the protests against rising inflation, low wages, and the abolition of fuel subsidies. About 100 roadblocks have caused food and medicine shortages.