A man runs for cover after riot police fired tear gas canister during a protest in Rurrenabaque, Bolivia, Monday Sept. 26, 2011. Bolivia's Defense Minister Cecilia Chacon resigned Monday after police violently broke up Sunday a protest by indigenous and environmentalists groups who were marching towards La Paz, against the construction of a government planned highway that would cut through the nature preserve Territorio Indigena Parque Nacional Isiboro Secure, TIPNIS, home to 15,000 natives. (AP Photo/Juan Karita)
A man runs for cover after riot police fired tear gas canister during a protest in Rurrenabaque, Bolivia, Monday Sept. 26, 2011. Bolivia's Defense Minister Cecilia Chacon resigned Monday after police violently broke up Sunday a protest by indigenous and environmentalists groups who were marching towards La Paz, against the construction of a government planned highway that would cut through the nature preserve Territorio Indigena Parque Nacional Isiboro Secure, TIPNIS, home to 15,000 natives. (AP Photo/Juan Karita)
A demonstrator confronts riot police in Rurrenabaque, Bolivia, Monday, Sept. 26, 2011. Bolivia's Defense Minister Cecilia Chacon resigned Monday after police violently broke up Sunday a protest by indigenous and environmentalists groups who were marching towards La Paz, against the construction of a government planned highway that would cut through the nature preserve Territorio Indigena Parque Nacional Isiboro Secure, TIPNIS, home to 15,000 natives. (AP Photo/Juan Karita)
Demonstrators argue with riot police during a blockade at the airport in Rurrenabaque, Bolivia, Monday, Sept. 26, 2011. Bolivia's Defense Minister Cecilia Chacon resigned Monday after police violently broke up Sunday a protest by indigenous and environmentalists groups who were marching towards La Paz, against the construction of a government planned highway that would cut through the nature preserve Territorio Indigena Parque Nacional Isiboro Secure, TIPNIS, home to 15,000 natives. The smoke is from tires being burned. (AP Photo/Juan Karita)
Demonstrators run for cover after riot police threw tear gas in Rurrenabaque, Bolivia, Monday, Sept. 26, 2011. Bolivia's Defense Minister Cecilia Chacon resigned Monday after police violently broke up Sunday a protest by indigenous and environmentalists groups who were marching towards La Paz. Protesters are against the construction of a government planned highway that would cut through the nature preserve Territorio Indigena Parque Nacional Isiboro Secure, TIPNIS, home to 15,000 natives. (AP Photo/Juan Karita)
Riot police speak with indigenous protesters during a blockade at the airport in Rurrenabaque, Bolivia, Monday, Sept. 26, 2011. Bolivia's Defense Minister Cecilia Chacon resigned Monday after police violently broke up Sunday a protest by indigenous and environmentalists groups who were marching towards La Paz, against the construction of a government planned highway that would cut through the nature preserve Territorio Indigena Parque Nacional Isiboro Secure, TIPNIS, home to 15,000 natives. (AP Photo/Juan Karita)
RURRENABAQUE, Bolivia (AP) ? Bolivian police forces have freed hundreds of Amazon Indians detained during a protest march against a highway they fear will damage their lands.
Interior Minister Sat Loretta has told a news conference that police decided to free the detainees Monday after hundreds of local residents blocked the runway to the airport to stop authorities from flying the prisoners out of town.
Loretta says the decision was made "to prevent confrontations."
Police detained the marchers Sunday in an act that some protesters called unnecessarily aggressive. Bolivian Defense Minister Cecilia Chicano resigned Monday, saying she didn't agree with the government's decision to break up the march.
THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. Check back soon for further information. AP's earlier story is below.
RURRENABAQUE, Bolivia (AP) ? Bolivia's defense minister has resigned in protest over a crackdown in Indians protesting an Amazon highway they say will cause damage to their lands.
Celicia Chacon says she did not agree with the government decision to break up a march against the highway project and detain hundreds of protesters.
About 100 protesters seized the landing strip in the town of Rurrenabaque on Monday to prevent police from using it to fly detainees out of the area.
The protest poses a dilemma for President Evo Morales. While he sympathizes with Indian causes, he says the 190-mile (300-kilometer) highway is essential for Bolivia's economy. It is to connect Brazil with Pacific ports in Chile and Peru.
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