The Bolivian president, Evo Morales, has taken steps to increase state control of the economy by ordering foreign energy and telecommunications companies to give control to the government. This report from Paul Keller:

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Bolivia is buying controlling stakes in four energy companies - one in an agreement with the Spanish oil company, Repsol, and the others through state decrees.

Mr Morales is also re-nationalising the national telephone company, which was sold to the Italian firm, Telecom Italia, more than a decade ago. The Bolivian leader has accused the Italian firm of failing to honour a deal to invest more than six hundred million dollars in the national telephone system.

Paul Keller, BBC

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came to power
here, became president

to nationalise
to transfer a business, property, or industry from private to governmental control or ownership

redistribute wealth
share out money and valuables differently from before, especially in a fairer way

indigenous majority
most of the country's population who are natives of Bolivia

two years on
after two years

has some way to go
is not yet completed

controlling stakes
most of the shares

through state decrees
by making officials statements (that something must happen)

a decade
a period of ten years

failing to honour a deal
breaking its promise

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