Bolivian minister's convoy ambushed during roadblock clearance operation
The convoy of Bolivian Justice Minister Iván Lima was ambushed while supervising the clearance of roadblocks on the La Paz–El Alto corridor. One of the minister's bodyguards was injured; the government said the protests had 'crossed from action into open attack'.
Bolivia's interior ministry said the incident began in the Senkata district between La Paz and El Alto airport, when the ministerial convoy was halted by a group throwing stones and firing weapons. Government spokeswoman Roxana Lizárraga said one bodyguard had been wounded in the leg and the minister moved to a secure facility.
The protests have continued for 12 days; business groups now estimate daily losses of around 250 million bolivianos (roughly $36 million). Branko Marinkovic, spokesman for the Movimiento Democrata Social, said the government 'must build dialogue rather than apply pressure', while the COB labour confederation insisted the protests remained peaceful.
President Luis Arce addressed the nation in the evening, saying his government 'will not allow the democratic order to be eroded'. A previously scheduled International Monetary Fund mission begins in La Paz on 9 June; analysts will use those talks to gauge whether the boliviano slide and fuel shortages can be stabilised in the short term.
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