UPDATE 3-Bolivia election audit set to begin with country caught in deadlock

The Organization of American States (OAS) will begin a "binding" audit of Bolivia's fiercely contested presidential vote, which sparked nationwide protests and allegations of fraud after handing socialist leader Evo Morales a first-round win. The OAS will start the audit on Thursday and all parties will be obliged to comply with the outcome, Bolivia's Foreign Minister Diego Pary told reporters in La Paz on Wednesday.

The Oct. 20 election handed Morales an outright win, giving him just above the 10-point lead needed to avoid a risky runoff against main rival Carlos Mesa. The initial vote count was inexplicably disrupted, however, sparking the anger of opposition supporters, allegations of vote-rigging and concern from the OAS and foreign governments including the United States and Brazil.

Morales, who swept to power in 2006 as the country's first indigenous leader, has overseen almost 14 years of relative stability and reliable economic growth in one of the region's poorest nations. The former coca farmers' union leader has faced a rising tide of dissatisfaction, however, even among the indigenous groups he has most visibly supported, with widespread anger about him seeking a contentious fourth term despite term limits.

Allegations of cronyism and lavish projects - including a $34 million, 28-floor presidential palace in La Paz - have created a sense of unease about him losing touch with the working people. Pary said Bolivia had invited observers from Spain, Mexico and Paraguay to monitor the audit process. He did not say how long the process would take.

Mesa, who previously said he believed the audit would demonstrate clear election fraud, said in a statement on Wednesday that his party "did not accept the audit under the current terms, agreed unilaterally." Protests over the disputed election have continued to convulse Bolivia, with police firing tear gas in the capital on Tuesday.

Political consultant Jorge Dulón said that with both sides refusing to back down, and the opposition seemingly not on board with the OAS audit, the country was deadlocked with no clear way to end the standoff. "It's hard to see the way out of this crisis," he said.

 

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