BOLIVIA PLEDGES COCA-ERADICATION BY 2002

The Bolivian President, Hugo Banzer, has pledged to eradicate all
significant amounts of coca crops in his country by the end of the year.

Mr Banzer, who had talks in Washington with the US Secretary of State,
Colin Powell, thanked the United States for financial support to develop
alternative crops.

However he also said he will not negotiate with the coca-leaf growers, who
have been protesting against the government's eradication programme saying
it undermines their livelihood. On Monday protestors clashed with police in
the capital, La Paz, after their two-week march which began in the central
coca-growing region of Chapare.