In Brief

Regional summit seeks solution to Bolivia crisis

SANTIAGO, Chile: South America's presidents converged on Chile for an emergency summit yesterday aimed at preventing the collapse of Bolivia, whose leftist president has essentially lost control of half the country and said bloody unrest there amounts to an attempted coup. Evo Morales said he would explain to his fellow presidents how his political foes in Bolivia's rich eastern lowlands have mounted a "civic coup," inciting "crimes against humanity by groups massacring the poorest of my country." At least 30 people were killed in political violence last week, prompting Bolivia's first indigenous president to declare martial law in the rebellious state of Pando and seek the arrest of its governor. Gov. Leopoldo Fernandez denied any responsibility for the deaths, calling it an armed clash between rival groups and accusing Morales of "mounting a farce."

Simpson's robbery, kidnapping trial opens

LAS VEGAS: A prosecutor told jurors yesterday that they will learn "the true face" of O.J. Simpson during the former football star's trial on charges of robbing sports memorabilia dealers in a Las Vegas hotel room. Prosecutor Chris Owens began his opening statement by playing an audio recording of the confrontation and pointed out one voice barking commands. Simpson, who flashed a thumbs-up sign when he arrived at court, sat impassively while Owens described the rest of the recording. In his opening statement, defense attorney Yale Galanter asserted that the evidence will not show that Simpson intended to commit a crime, but rather that he simply wanted to recover stolen personal effects. Simpson, 61, and co-defendant Clarence "C.J." Stewart, 54, have pleaded not guilty to 12 charges, including kidnapping, armed robbery and conspiracy.