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Mr Illanes was reportedly beaten to death after being seized by protesters
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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.
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Miners have been clashing with police over proposed legislation
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Police have been using tear gas
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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.
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Two miners were killed by live fire on Thursday
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The authorities could not for the moment retrieve his body, the minister said. More than 100 arrests had been made, he said.
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Police have been attempting to remove the protesters
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The miners have been blocking a highway since Tuesday
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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.