Striking miners in Bolivia kidnapped and beat to death the country's deputy government minister after he travelled to the area to mediate in the bitter conflict over mining laws, officials said on Thursday.
Government minister Carlos Romero called it a "cowardly and brutal killing" and asked the miners to hand over the body of deputy minister Rodolfo Illanes.
Earlier, Mr Romero said that Illanes had been kidnapped and possibly tortured, but local media reports that he had been killed by the miners had not been confirmed.
But on Thursday Mr Romero and Reymi Ferreira, defence minister, said that the vice minister of government had been beaten to death by the miners, who are demanding more rights, including the right to associate with private companies.
Illanes had gone to Panduro, a town 80m (130km) south of the La Paz, where the strikers have blockaded a highway since Monday, to open discussions.
Protesters have been demanding more mining concessions, the right to work for private companies, and greater union representation.
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