Travel plans should be reassessed

President Evo Morales held talks with opposition governors in Cochabamba on 18 September 2008 in an effort to defuse political tensions. The opposition governors reiterated their demands for more autonomy, a greater share of natural gas reserves and the cancellation of a planned referendum on constitutional reforms. At the conclusion of the talks, in the early hours of 19 September, the two sides agreed to form three commissions to discuss these issues. The governor of Tarija, one of the opposition negotiators, stated that the two sides agreed on some issues but continue to hold diverging views on others. A Morales government member called on the administration's supporters to lift the blockades they have implemented on several streets in view of the progress made at the talks. Some protests continued on 18 September. In Seguencoma, which is located south of La Paz, protesters smashed car windows, threw firecrackers and attempted to gain entry to private residences. Meanwhile, Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez hosted a summit with eight other South American presidents in Santiago, Chile, to discuss the political crisis. The leaders condemned violent actions by some in Bolivia's opposition and offered to help establish an independent commission to facilitate more negotiations.