Protesters try to stop Bolivia vote

May . 4 - A referendum to give Bolivia's wealthy eastern region of Santa Cruz greater autonomy from leftist President Evo Morales' government is underway.

The referendum, which Morales says is illegal, would theoretically give the region's rightist leaders more control over taxes, policing and natural resources including fertile farmland and about 10 percent of Bolivia's oil and gas reserves. Morales, who's Bolivia's first indigenous president, sees the vote as an effort to destabilize his government, engineered by conservative rivals who oppose his efforts to break up large landholdings and empower the poor, indigenous majority.

Helen Long reports.