Bolivian police and armed forces cleared part of a key highway in San Julian, in the eastern Santa Cruz region, on Saturday (June 6), after more than three weeks of blockades that had disrupted transit during a nationwide protest standoff.

Authorities said the clearance operation began at around 6 a.m. local time, when security forces removed logs, debris and other barriers from the route, allowing some stranded vehicles to continue their journeys.

At least two police officers were wounded by gunfire during the operation. Authorities said the shots came from the direction of protesters, and a video released from Bolivia's Defense Ministry and reviewed by Reuters showed two people firing rifles from the side of the blockade.

Planning Minister Oscar Mario Justiniano said police were equipped with chemical agents and protective gear and were trying to prevent clashes while also opening humanitarian corridors.

The conflict began with a workers' strike in May that escalated into highway blockades which cut off access to the neighbouring cities of La Paz and El Alto, which are home to some 2 million people.

Protesters, including labour unions and groups loyal to former leftist President Evo Morales, are demanding Paz's government roll back austerity measures and address rising living costs.

DESCRIPCIÓN DE IMÁGENES

1. VARIOUS OF CLASHES BETWEEN POLICE AND BLOCKADERS ON SAN JULIAN HIGHWAY

2. PROTESTERS WITH STONES ADVANCING ONTO THE HIGHWAY

3. MEMBERS OF THE SANTA CRUZ YOUTH UNION CLASHING WITH BLOCKADERS

4. POLICE FORCES OBSERVING THE BLOCKADE SITE WITH BURNING TIRES

5. SOMEONE CLEANING THE ROAD WITH A BOLIVIAN FLAG DRAPED OVER THEIR BACK

CUATRO CANADAS, SANTA CRUZ, BOLIVIA (JUNE 6, 2026) (BOLIVIA TV - Access all)

6. (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) MINISTER OF DEVELOPMENT PLANNING, OSCAR MARIO JUSTINIANO, SAYING:

"They, the police officers, had chemical agents and the proper gear, and they were making sure that, under no circumstances, there were clashes like the ones that occurred between civilians. In addition to that, they were also ensuring that humanitarian corridors were opened."

SAN JULIAN, SANTA CRUZ, BOLIVIA (JUNE 6, 2026) (REUTERS - Access all)

7. VARIOUS OF CLASHES BETWEEN POLICE FORCES AND BLOCKADERS

8. AMBULANCE PASSING ALONG THE HIGHWAY

9. MILITARY PERSONNEL GUARDING THE HIGHWAY

10. ENTRANCE TO SAN JULIAN

11. TRUCK PASSING ALONG THE HIGHWAY AFTER THE ROAD WAS CLEARED FOLLOWING THE BLOCKADE

SAN JULIAN, SANTA CRUZ, BOLIVIA (JUNE 6, 2026) (BOLIVIAN DEFENCE MINISTRY HANDOUT - Access all) (ORIGINALLY IN PORTRAIT)

12. TWO ARMED PEOPLE WITH RIFLES SHOOTING FROM THE SIDE OF THE BLOCKADERS

CUATRO CANADAS, SANTA CRUZ, BOLIVIA (JUNE 6, 2026) (BOLIVIA TV - Access all)

13. (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) SANTA CRUZ PROVINCE POLICE CHIEF, COLONEL DAVID GOMEZ, SAYING:

"We used chemical agents to disperse this crowd, which was acting aggressively. You are witnesses to this because you accompanied the entire operation that we carried out together with the Armed Forces. I should also mention that no police officer or military public servant was carrying a gun."

SAN JULIAN, SANTA CRUZ, BOLIVIA (JUNE 6, 2026) (CADENA A - No use Bolivia / Must on screen courtesy Cadena A)

14. VARIOUS OF RIOT POLICE FIRING TEAR GAS TO CLEAR THE HIGHWAY IN SAN JULIAN

15. BURNED MOTORCYCLE AFTER CLASHES BETWEEN BLOCKADE PARTICIPANTS AND POLICE

16. VARIOUS OF AN INJURED POLICE OFFICER WITH A LEG WOUND BEING TAKEN BY AMBULANCE TO A MEDICAL CENTER

SANTA CRUZ, BOLIVIA (JUNE 6, 2026) (BOLIVIA TV - Access all)

17. VARIOUS OF AN INJURED POLICE OFFICER BEING ESCORTED INTO HOSPITAL

SAN JULIAN, SANTA CRUZ, BOLIVIA (JUNE 6, 2026) (RADIO COMUNITARIO SAN JULIAN DIGITAL - No use Bolivia / Must on screen courtesy Radio Comunitario San Julian Digital)

18. VARIOUS OF CIVILIAN INJURED IN THE LEG BEING EVACUATED

19. (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) BLOCKADER, NO NAME GIVEN, SAYING:

"At five in the morning, while we were blocking the road peacefully and could have held talks, they came to intimidate us."

20. BLOCKADERS RUNNING FROM TEAR GAS