Bolivian president set to quit

Bolivian president Gonzalo Sanchez de Lozada is set to resign after weeks of deadly street riots.

Former president Jaime Paz Zamora called the impending announcement a “patriotic decision”.

Sanchez de Lozada said he would issue a statement at 4pm local time (9pm UK time) but did not give details.

His coalition government was struck a crippling blow earlier today as his last key supporter, Manfred Reyes Villa, withdrew after weeks of nationwide street demonstrations.

The 73-year-old leader had ignited a firestorm of protests when he announced in mid-September that he wanted to export Bolivian natural gas to the United States and Mexico.

He temporarily suspended the plan last week in the face of the riots, which human rights groups said claimed as many as 65 lives.

While he had said the gas would reap millions of dollars in annual revenue for Bolivia, opponents claimed only the wealthy would benefit.

A US-educated millionaire, Sanchez de Lozada served as president from 1993 to 1997. He took office for a second term in August 2002.

Military planes airlifted hundreds of stranded travellers from Bolivia’s capital La Paz.