President has started a hunger strike

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Evo Morales, the Bolivian president, has begun a hunger strike aimed at pressuring the country's parliament to set a firm date for general elections that he is likely to win.

Morales, who took office in 2006, has said opposition politicians are trying to block the poll, which was approved by voters as part of a constitutional referendum held in January. The constitution calls for the Bolivian congress to approve an electoral law ratifying December 6 as the date for a general election.

The opposition says that reforms should be made in the country; particularly they want a new electoral register ahead of the election, saying the current census is not reliable.