Peasants, teachers end protests, but coca growers maintain road blocks

LA PAZ, Bolivia - Peasants and school teachers agreed to end protests, but coca growers refused to lift a blockade of Bolivia's main highway after three weeks of protests that have left 10 dead and caused millions of dollars in losses to South America's poorest nation.

The government agreed to most of the demands by the school teachers and peasants, allowing a deal early Saturday to end the protests, in talked mediated by the Catholic Church.

Even as that agreement was reached, however, talks broke off between the government and farmers growing coca leaf - used to make cocaine - in the tropical region of Chapare, 360 miles southeast of La Paz.

The government refused the coca farmers' demand to suspend the forceful eradication of their plantations, a key element in the government's fight against cocaine production and trafficking.

Angry leaders of the farmers returned to Chapare vowing to maintain the blockade they set three weeks ago on the country's main highway, linking central Bolivia with the farming zones between the cities of Santa Cruz and Cochabamba.

The government repeatedly sent soldiers and police to clear the road but the farmers, often chanting ''coca or death,'' blocked them again. The blockades left hundreds of vehicles stranded and caused food shortages in many cities, including La Paz.

Clashes over the farmers' blockades and others by peasants left 10 people dead and and 120 wounded since the protests started.

President Hugo Banzer has accused cocaine traffickers of organizing the unrest to destabilize the country. ''For us to stop the eradication of coca is to turn over the nation to cocaine traffickers,'' Banzer said last week. ''We will not surrender in our fight against cocaine trafficking.''

The government has already eradicated most of the coca plantations in Chapare. Less than 5,000 acres remain and growers leader Evo Morales is demanding each family be allowed to plant around 17,000 square feet of coca. This would amount to 30,000 acres of new coca.

Meanwhile, school teachers prepared to return to classes on Monday and peasants agreed to immediately lift roadblocks they erected in many areas. Peasant leader Felipe Quispe, however, warned his sector will remain on alert to make sure the government keeps its promises.

Opposition leader Carlos Sanchez criticized the government, saying it had folded to the strikers' demands. ''The government has been brought to its knees,'' he said.

The government agreed to guarantee ample use of public irrigation systems and expanded access to farming land, as well as to compensate the families of the victims of the protests.

As part of their agreement the school teachers were promised new bonuses totalling around $230 each.

The unrest has caused losses valued at around $130 million, or 1.5 percent of Bolivia's GNP, according to the government.