Irishman killed in Bolivian police shoot-out

An Irishman has apparently been killed during a shoot-out in Bolivia between police officers and a gang that was allegedly plotting to assassinate the country's president, Evo Morales.

The security forces moved in on the gang at a hotel in the city of Santa Cruz yesterday.

Three people were killed during the operation and another two were arrested.

Bolivia's vice-president said the gang were a group of "terrorist mercenaries" from Ireland, Croatia and Bolivia, while a police commander said the dead also included Hungarians.

The Department of Foreign Affairs says the Irish embassy in Argentina is in contact with authorities in Bolivia.