Indian-led protests in the Bolivian capital of La Paz took a violent turn on Tuesday after President Carlos Mesa offered his resignation.

Thousands of Indians, miners and others continued to flood the streets. Police fired tear gas, rubber bullets and water cannons at them, The New York Times reported. For the first, soldiers patrolled the streets with rifles, the paper said.

Bolivia's Congress is expected to accept Mesa's resignation today. One of the nation's top Indian leaders, Evo Morales, is calling for a new election. He almost beat Mesa's predecessor in a 2003 election.

Get the Story:
Bolivia's Capital Reels From Surging Protests (The New York Times 6/8)
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Violent Uprising Persists in Bolivia (AP 6/7)
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