Strike threat looms over Bolivia

Under increased pressure from his union allies as well as the opposition over high food prices, Bolivian President Evo Morales on Tuesday faced the possibility of a general strike after talks on hiking the minimum wage broke down between government officials and labor leaders.

Members of the Bolivian Workers Central (COB) walked out of talks with Labor Ministry officials after more than three hours of negotiations over a demand to raise the minimum monthly salary from 680 bolivianos (70 euros) to a mximum of 8,309 bolivianos (832 euros). The COB, which has supported Morales' leftist government, has threatened to call a nationwide strike if the salary demand is not met.

"We discussed this point for more than two and a half hours and unfortunately they left the meeting room," said Óscar Coca, Morales' chief of staff.

"He doesn't have any family - that's why it doesn't matter to him at all"

The threat comes following Friday's nationwide protests over high food and energy prices that paralyzed several cities across Bolivia. It was the fifth day of protests in the Andean country.

In La Paz, demonstrators set off sticks of dynamite but no one was reported injured in any of the blasts. The marches were organized by unions who are also protesting Morales' planned increase in gasoline prices and an 83-percent diesel fuel rise so that the government will not have to continue paying subsidies.

"He said he would govern with the people, so he should put it into practice!" said Pedro Montes, the COB's secretary general.

One woman taking part in the protest echoed a broad sentiment that Morales was not aware of just how dire the situation was. "Sure, he doesn't have any family - that's why it doesn't matter to him at all," the AFP reported her as saying.

The demonstrations also took place as COB representatives held their first meeting with the Labor Ministry to discuss the minimum wage hike.

Meanwhile, a Morales government official said there was an international campaign designed to smear the president and "exaggerate" problems in living conditions.

Speaking to the official daily Cambio, Félix Cárdenas, the minister for decolonization, accused the United States and the opposition of painting "a false image of this country by saying there is no democracy or freedom of expression and political persecution."

In Paraguay, an advisor to President Fernando Lugo said his country would demand an explanation from Morales for comments he reportedly made accusing the Asunción government of collaborating with corrupt officials in Bolivia. Miguel López Perito, Lugo's chief of staff, told the Ecuadorian daily El Comercio that if true, the statements by Morales were "serious" and could harm bilateral relations.

Bolivia and Paraguay have been on rocky terms after Lugo last month granted asylum to Mario Cossío, the governor of Tarija province who was suspended after he was charged with corruption. Cossío, an opponent of Morales, maintains that the charges filed against him are politically motivated.

On Saturday, Morales said: "Those who steal money escape to Paraguay, Peru or the United States (...) I believe that the authorities in these nations are accomplices to corruption."