Friday 26 August 2016

Bolivia minister killed by protesting miners


Rodolfo IllanesImage copyrightMINISTERIO DE GOBIERNO DE BOLIVIA
Image captionMr Illanes was reportedly beaten to death after being seized by protesters
The Bolivian government says its deputy interior minister has been kidnapped and killed by striking miners.
Rodolfo Illanes and his bodyguard were seized earlier on Thursday at a roadblock in Panduro, south of La Paz, official said.
Interior Minister Carlos Romero said "all indications" were that Mr Illanes had been murdered in a "cowardly and brutal" attack.
Two miners also died from gunshot wounds during clashes with police.
Mr Illanes was beaten to death at about 18:00 local time (00:00 GMT), La Razon newspaper quoted Defence Minister Reymi Ferreira as saying.
The authorities could not for the moment retrieve his body, the minister said. More than 100 arrests had been made, he said.
President Evo Morales had been "profoundly affected" by Mr Illanes's death, Mr Ferreira added.
While he was being held, Mr Illanes told Bolivian radio that a condition for his release was that the government negotiate with miners over new legislation.
The miners have been blocking a highway in Panduro since Tuesday.
The National Federation of Mining Co-operatives of Bolivia, once strong allies of President Morales, began what they said would be an indefinite protest after negotiations failed.
Protesters have been demanding more mining concessions, the right to work for private companies, and greater union representation.
Miners clash with policeImage copyrightAP
Image captionMiners have been clashing with police over proposed legislation
miners clash with the policeImage copyrightAP
Image captionPolice have been using tear gas
A Bolivian miner shows a bullet shell that was used to kill one of the two dead minersImage copyrightEPA
Image captionTwo miners were killed by live fire on Thursday
Independent miners clash with the police during protests in PanduroImage copyrightAP
Image captionPolice have been attempting to remove the protesters
Miners block a highway in PanduroImage copyrightREUTERS
Image captionThe miners have been blocking a highway since Tuesday
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