BOLIVIAN government supporters and security forces have clashed with protesters loyal to former president Evo Morales.

This is the second violent confrontation this week, adding to fears of further unrest in the Andean nation.

Both sides hurled firecrackers, homemade explosives and stones across a dusty sprawl in the city of El Alto, while riot police unleashed tear gas into the crowds.

At least eight people were injured, Bolivia’s Health Ministry reported.

The confrontation came as thousands of Bolivians supporting Mr Morales continued an epic 118-mile march to the capital of La Paz.

Mr Morales and his former economy minister, the current President Luis Arce, are vying to lead Bolivia’s long-dominant socialist party (MAS), into next year’s presidential election. 

The political crisis began in 2019, when Mr Morales, who first came to power in 2006, was forced to resign after being re-elected to a third term in a vote marred by accusations of fraud and mass protests. 

He left the country but made a dramatic political comeback a year later, returning to find he had retained widespread support among poor and Indigenous Bolivians.

Protesters say they are “outraged” over Bolivia’s economic meltdown and President Arce’s efforts to block the candidacy of their former leader in next year’s election.

Some supporters of Mr Morales broke off from the march as they stopped to rest at an encampment seven miles from El Alto.

Then, they pressed on into the neighbourhood of Ventilla where they clashed with security forces and supporters of the president.

Mr Morales accused the government of bringing paramilitary groups into El Alto “to incite violence.”