250 European tourists stranded in Andes

Protests by indigenous Bolivians over a territorial dispute led to some 250 tourists being stranded in the Andes. According to The Australian newspaper, the tourists, who were mainly from Britain and Spain, were only able to escape the region, with help from farmers, after four days. The newspaper reports that the tourists were then taken to the town of Uyuni by government officials, and were due to be taken to the capital, La Paz, over the weekend. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office warns: “Unpredictable bouts of social unrest, common in Bolivia, can affect main tourist areas and internal travel. Keep away from demonstrations and respect roadblocks.” Report by Tim Gillett, News From Abroad Ltd