MEXICO CITY, Sept. 12 (Xinhua) -- Latin American countries called on Friday the Bolivian government and the opposition to engage in a dialogue, so as to solve the internal crisis in the country.

    Violent clashes between supporters of President Evo Morales and anti-government protesters have already killed eight people, injured 34 and left many more missing in Bolivia's northern province of Pando.

    Dialogue is the only civilized way to resolve the tension, Peruvian President Alan Garcia said on Friday, adding that his country respects "the democratic regime and what the people support."

    Meanwhile, Ecuadorian President Rafael Correa said during a working visit to Peru that he supported the democracy and the unity of Bolivia.

    "I send a huge hug to President Evo Morales and hope the crisis could be solved as soon as possible," Correa said.

    The Ecuadorian Foreign Ministry also said in a statement that the Bolivian government and the opposition should set aside their differences and reach understanding soon.

    On the same day, Paraguayan President Fernando Lugo said he is "sympathetic with Bolivia and its president who was chosen in a democratic way."

    Lugo also hailed the "international sympathy that has been shown" to Bolivia due to the grave situation there.

    The Colombian government also urged Morales and the opposition to avoid any violence in Bolivia.

    "Colombia has suffered from violence and we do not want to see any brother country experience the same ordeal," a government spokesman said.

    Various regional organizations also called for dialogue in Bolivia, with some offering mediation role.

    Jose Miguel Insulza, secretary-general of the Organization of American Sates (OAS), said in a Friday communique that the priorities for Bolivia should be to end the violence, to recognize and respect the legal authorities, and to set a table for dialogue."

    The South American Union of Nations (Unasur) said it "fervently" hopes the Bolivian government and the opposition could "retake the path of peaceful coexistence, of respect for life, of dialogue directed to shared solutions, of democracy and of institutional consolidation."

    President of the Andean Parliament (Parlandino) Ivonne Baki said that the organization will meet soon to decide whether or not to send a mission to Bolivia for mediation.

    Demonstrations began two weeks ago in Bolivia after President Morales announced plans to revise the constitution and redirect gas revenues to the poor, but violence flared up this week as demonstrators in the country's energy-rich eastern provinces stormed public offices, blocked roads and seized gas fields.

    The Bolivian government declared Friday martial law in Pando inan attempt to calm the situation there.

    Bolivian President Evo Morales said the presidential office has also sent letters to opposition governors to meet on Friday at 18:00 local time (2300 GMT) for a dialogue.