Bolivian soldiers and police seized the offices and installations of the national telephone company, Euro Telecom International (Entel), as well as several energy companies this week, proclaiming the firms were being nationalized and returned "to the hands of the Bolivian people."
Ouch. Entel operator Telecom Italia said it's waiting for official word of the takeover before commenting. Perhaps they need to get out to the branch office more often.
Bolivia's president warned Entel against resistance. The company was privatized in 1996.
For more:
- Read the AFP story