Bolivian security forces kill five and injure dozens, threats interim Govt's efforts to restore stability

Bolivia's political crisis turned deadly after security forces opened fire on supporters of Evo Morales in a central town, killing at least five people, injuring dozens and threatening the interim government's efforts to restore stability following the resignation of the former president in an election dispute.

Morales resigned on Sunday and fled to Mexico after coming under pressure from protesters and the military following a disputed October 20 election. The vote gave him a win but was marked by allegations of fraud and anger over his refusal to accept the results of a referendum preventing him from running for a fourth term.

Bolivia's first indigenous leader described his ouster as a foreign-backed, right-wing coup. Cuba and Venezuela have supported Morales' assertion he was toppled in a coup.

Morales, who was granted asylum in Mexico after his resignation Sunday, said on Twitter that a 'massacre' had occurred and he described Bolivia's government led by interim President Jeanine Anez as a dictatorship.

'Now they are killing our brothers in Sacaba, Cochabamba,' he said in another tweet.

Protesters said police fired when demonstrators, including many coca leaf growers who backed Bolivia's first indigenous president, tried to cross a military checkpoint. Emeterio Colque Sanchez, a 23-year-old university student, said he saw the dead bodies of several protesters and about two-dozen people rushed to hospitals, many covered in blood.

Interim Foreign Minister Karen Longaric said Friday that Venezuelan diplomats and Cuban officials were fomenting unrest against the interim government and ordered them to leave.

Cuba said 700 members of its medical mission to Bolivia would be removed but denied any role in pro-Morales protests after four doctors were arrested.

Cuba has a respected health service and has long sent tens of thousands of health workers to dozens of countries in exchange for foreign currency.

Presidency Minister Jerjes Justiniano told reporters in La Paz that five people had been killed and an estimated 22 were injured. Lara, the hospital director, said that 75 people were injured.

Justiniano called for a dialogue with all parties involved in the conflict.

'What we've been able to determine through preliminary information is that they used military weapons,' he said.

On Thursday, Morales told reporters that while he had submitted his resignation, it was never accepted by Congress.

'I can say that I'm still president,' he said.