WASHINGTON, May 19 - U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau said on Tuesday he spoke with Bolivian President Rodrigo Paz and was very concerned about escalating unrest in the South American country, where nationwide protests over austerity measures have sparked instability. Read more at straitstimes.com. Read more at straitstimes.com.

May 12 (UPI) -- Bolivia's largest labor union federation launched a nationwide strike Tuesday, with road and street blockades, as teachers, farmers and Indigenous organizations expanded protests and some leaders began to demand President Rodrigo Paz's resignation.