SWEDES EXPELLED FROM BOLIVIA FOR SUPPORTING COCA FARMERS

LA PAZ, Bolivia (AP)--The government has ordered four Swedish women
expelled from Bolivia, accusing them of illegal political activism by
supporting protests by coca growers.

The four women, who have been detained since Monday, were given until
Saturday to leave Bolivia.

According to the government, Malin Fredenstedt, Malena Wahlin, Ylva
Westander and Emma Johansson helped in planning and financing protests
that began Monday with a series of blockades on the nation's main highway.

The protests have left four people dead in clashes with police and
soldiers.

The coca growers are protesting the eradication of their plants by the
government. Coca leaf is processed to make cocaine .

Deputy Interior Minister Jose Luis Harb said the Swedish women gave
$2,000 to Evo Morales, the leftist leader of the coca peasants in the
Chapare region, to help finance the protests.

Harb said the four women were detained because they joined several
marches against the government, a political activity prohibited to
foreigners.

"It has been fully confirmed that these four people were actively
participating in political agitation," the official said.

He said the four women, believed to be college students, will be
banned from Bolivia in the future.

The four are expected to fly to Sao Paulo, Brazil, on
Saturday.

Police said that the four arrived in Bolivia a month ago, and have
since been in touch with Morales and held several meetings to plan the
protests.

In addition, according to police, their visas had expired.

But a Swedish consular official in La Paz, Maria Bertha Arduz,
explained that the problem with the visas was a mistake by the
Immigration service. She said Swedish citizens are entitled to a
90-day stay when entering Bolivia, but the four women were given only
30 days.

Arduz said the four women deny participating in marches against the
government.

She said the four were part of a group of 24 Swedish tourists. Others
in the group have had no problems in Bolivia.