Bolivian President Evo Morales Oct. 13 led the opening rally at a cross-country march from the city of Caracollo, Oruro department, to La Paz in support of a referendum on the country's pending new constitution. "If from here we begin with 5,000 demonstrators, for sure we will arrive in La Paz with more than one million," Morales said, adding that the march would "persuade that small group of opposition to allow us to change the country." The president called on farmers along the route to provide food and accommodations for the marchers, who are expected to arrive in La Paz on Oct. 20 after traveling some 200 kilometers. Representatives of social organizations from all nine of Bolivia's departments are participating in the march. (Xinhua, Oct. 14; Prensa Latina, Oct. 13)

See our last post on Bolivia.