The Organization of American States (OAS) will send a total of 150 observers to the general elections in Bolivia, said an official in charge of coordination with the group on Tuesday.

Gustavo Beliz told reporters that the OAS observers, who are from 14 countries in the region, will be sent to polling stations in the nine regions of the country to observe the Dec. 18 elections.

He said he had met Bolivia's interim leader Eduardo Rodriguez on Monday and held talks with candidates from the eight parties enrolled for the ballots, officials at the Bolivian National Electoral Council, as well as representatives from the Andean Community of Nations and the Common Market of the South (Mercosur).

The elections are a result of a parliament decision made in July following growing civil unrest and political opposition which caused the resignation of then-President Carlos Mesa and the temporary appointment of Eduardo Rodriguez in June.

The voters are also expected to elect regional governors and decide if there should be a citizens' assembly to decide on a political reform package in the poorest country in South America.

So far, election campaigns have been taking place in a relatively peaceful atmosphere despite exchanges of criticisms among vying parties and some incidents such as the blocking of freeways in some regions, which were unrelated to the upcoming elections.

Source: Xinhua