LIMA, Aug. 20 (Xinhua) -- Demonstrators opposing the government of Bolivian President Evo Morales Wednesday blocked three highways connecting the east and west of the country.

    According to news reaching here from La Paz, administrative capital of Bolivia, demonstrators from the Democratic National Council (Conalde) started the action at 00:00 hours local time (0500 GMT) after the protest Tuesday was not answered by the central government.

    The Conalde staged a strike in the provinces of Santa Cruz, Beni, Pando, Tarija and Chuquisaca, demanding the president return the Direct Tax to the Hydrocarbons (IDH), which is used to pay Dignity Rent for people over 60 years old.

    According to information from Santa Cruz (east), the highways in Sucre, La Guardia and Samaipata were blocked Wednesday. La Guardia bridge on the Cochabamba-Santa Cruz highway was also blocked.

    The block will last 24 hours. The protestors threaten to further cut gas to the country's other provinces and take public institutions owned by the states, but these actions are to be confirmed in the following hours.

    Branco Marinkovic, president of Santa Cruz' Civic Committee and main promoter of the strikes, said the regions will continue with the protest to demand the refund of the petroleum revenue.

    Meanwhile, civics and organizations from Beni (north) announced they will stop sending beef to La Paz and to the west of the country indefinitely.