LA PAZ, Bolivia, Oct 14 (Reuters) - Bolivia's Congress gave the Supreme Court the green light on Thursday to investigate and possibly sentence ex-President Gonzalo Sanchez de Lozada over deaths during clashes between the army and protesters last year.
Sanchez de Lozada, a center-right leader now living in the United States, was forced out of office a year ago by the massive protests against his policies of opening up the economy of Bolivia, one of Latin America's poorest countries.
An estimated 67 people died and 200 were injured in protests by farmers, unemployed miners, and coca growers. The demonstrators also opposed a government natural gas export plan they said would benefit Bolivia's estranged neighbor Chile.
Demonstrators gathered on Thursday to celebrate outside Congress after both houses of Congress voted jointly to approve the trial. Of 130 deputies and 27 senators, 126 lawmakers voted in favor. Fifteen members of Sanchez de Lozada's cabinet will also go before the high court.
Thousands of other marchers were heading to La Paz to join demonstrations planned for Friday.
Hey you beat me, I just found that too.