Bolivians fear political unrest as rivals face off

By Helen Popper

LA PAZ, Dec 19 (Reuters) - Bolivians are used to seeing their nation teeter on the brink of political crisis, but a confrontation between President Evo Morales and his rightist opponents has some fearing a fresh slide into instability.

Tensions have grown over Morales' constitutional reform, which the opposition rejected by declaring autonomy in four eastern regions. Both sides have called for negotiations, but neither appears ready to make concessions.

While a lull is expected over Christmas and the New Year, many Bolivians wonder what lies in store in 2008 when a slew of referendums will decide the fate of the controversial constitution and regional autonomy declarations.

"We're terribly at odds, but we need a peaceful solution or else we'll end up with civil war," said school teacher Edgar Mamani, sitting in a park in the Andean city of La Paz.

He blamed Morales' opponents for the standoff, saying they wanted to block policies aimed at easing poverty in South America's poorest country.

Morales' drive to rewrite the constitution to empower Bolivia's Indian majority has deepened age rivalries between the Andean west and lowland east -- an opposition stronghold with large natural gas reserves.

Critics say the charter is an illegal power grab, forced through by Morales' allies. Their complain it does not give the regions sufficient autonomy while granting autonomy to indigenous communities.

Four regions declared themselves autonomous in mass public rallies on Saturday, a step Morales called unconstitutional.