Three die in Bolivia suicide bombing

An angry miner killed himself and two policemen when detonated dynamite strapped to his chest inside Bolivia’s congress, authorities said.

La Paz police chief Colonel Guido Arandia said the man – whose demand for early retirement benefits underscored the grievances of many low-paid miners in Bolivia – stormed into congress around midday local time yesterday and went to a part of the building away from the congressional chambers.

The miner detonated his vest laced with at least five sticks of dynamite as security agents tried to negotiate, killing himself and fatally wounding the police officers, Colonel Arandia said.

Authorities later said that 10 others were injured in the congress blast including Colonel Mabel Flores, head of the congressional security police, who was described as in a critical condition.

A miners’ leader, Miguel Zubieta, said the suicide bombing was a consequence of the situation affecting thousands of unemployed miners, and others who are not able to claim retirement benefits.

President Carlos Mesa said the miner “was a desperate man” whose action “had no political motivations”.

He said: “I want to tell the nation that what happened today is an absolutely isolated fact, not related to any situation that should cause concern. The nation should remain calm.”

Police had evacuated Congress earlier yesterday after receiving reports that disgruntled miners planned to force their way into the building. Police had no immediate report on whether the bomber was acting alone or with others.

The state-run network Canal 7 showed footage with shattered glass carpeting a side street leading to the ornate colonial legislative palace. Heavily armed police quickly cordoned off the complex in central La Paz and were seen dragging one body into a taxi that sped off.

An hour after the congressional blast, an explosion was heard in La Paz but there were no reports of injuries nor official word whether it was related.

The bombing comes with thousands of Bolivian miners out of work. In recent years the government has opened the country’s vast reserves of gold and other mineral deposits to private mining companies.

In October, disgruntled miners joined with indigenous groups and labour organisations in leading days of violent protests against then-President Gonzalo Sanchez de Losada. Rioting killed at least 58 people and was sparked by the president’s unpopular plan to export natural gas.

Since taking office, Mr Mesa has worked to ease still-simmering social tensions among the majority poor in the country of 8.2 million. But he continues to face pressure from the protest groups to turn around a slumping economy and narrow the gap between rich and poor.