LA PAZ, Bolivia (AP) A one-day protest in Bolivia's capital has nearly emptied the streets of La Paz of traffic and forced schools to close.
Citizens are upset that the latest national census reduces the city's population by 30,000, stripping it of $22 million in annual funding from the central government.
Protesters blocked access to the center with rocks and dirt piles and commerce was at a near standstill Wednesday.
The protest is backed by the mayor, a rival of President Evo Morales. He belongs to a party led by Juan del Granado, who is expected to challenge Morales in 2014's elections.
La Paz's sister city of El Alto did not take part in the protest. It's run by allies of Morales. According to the census, La Paz has 2.7 million residents
