Supporters of Bolivia's President Evo Morales protest in La Paz on Friday. (Juan Karita/Associated Press)

Both sides in the turmoil splitting Bolivia were talking tough on Sunday.

A governor from one of four rebellious eastern provinces claimed roadblocks set up by anti-government protesters were paralyzing the country, while a government spokesman accused another governor of killing peasants as soldiers enforced martial law in that province.

The country is in crisis as four provinces have rejected leftist President Evo Morales's plans for a Dec. 7 referendum on a new constitution, which would give Morales more power and transfer property to landless peasants.

The provinces want the referendum cancelled. Protesters have occupied government offices, airfields and natural gas facilities, set up roadblocks and torched a town hall.

Morales, Bolivia's first indigenous president, has said the vote is necessary to empower the poor indigenous majority.

At least 30 people have died in violence between the two sides.

Gov. Mario Cossio of Tarija, representing the four provinces, met Morales for talks on Sunday. He said protesters have set up highway blockades that have paralyzed much of the country, and led to food and gas shortages.

"Also paralyzed are borders with Argentina, Brazil and Paraguay," he said.

Meanwhile, government soldiers patrolled areas of the rebellious province of Pando, which was put under martial law after 16 peasants were killed Thursday. "These people were massacred," Morales said Saturday.

On Sunday, his chief of staff, Juan Ramon Quintana, called for the arrest of Pando's governor, Leopoldo Fernandez, "for violating the constitution and generating the bloody killings of the peasants."

Morales accused Fernandez of using imported thugs to attack the peasants, who are government supporters. Fernandez denied the charge.

Last week, Morales accused the U.S. ambassador of supporting the protesters, and ordered him to leave.

On Sunday the ambassador, Philip Goldberg, denied Morales's claim. "I would like to say that all the accusations made against me, against the embassy and against my nation are completely false and unjustified," he said.

South American leaders are to meet Monday in Chile to discuss the Bolivian situation.

With files from the Associated Press