Bolivian landless threaten invasions

Protest leaders warn the unrest could start again

Landless workers in Bolivia have seized an estate belonging to the family of the former president and are threatening further farm invasions.

President Gonzalo Sanchez de Lozada resigned from office last week after weeks of violent anti-government demonstrations over gas exports.

A group of about 40 people who invaded the estate said the property was unproductive and should be given to landless people.

The invasion came as protest leaders warned the new President, Carlos Mesa, he had to reverse his predecessor's free-market policies.

The leader of Bolivia's landless movement, Angel Duran, told the BBC that farm occupations would send a clear message to the government.

He said the peasants would not leave until the authorities had resolved the matter of land distribution.

"The constitution - Bolivia's principal law - states that unproductive land must be expropriated or turned over to those who have none," he said.

His landless movement has carried out invasions of unoccupied land before.

Thousands of poor peasants and indigenous people took part in the recent demonstrations in the cities which left at least 60 people dead.

Many groups also found the gas protests a way of channelling their own grievances with the government.

Trial period

Indigenous groups and trade unions are maintaining their pressure on President Mesa's administration.

Mr Duran, who accused politicians of abusing their power to acquire large estates, said he wanted to open talks with him.

Indigenous leader Felipe Quispe, who also leads the Single Trade Union Confederation of Bolivian Peasant Workers (CSUTCB), announced a 90-day truce to open negotiations with the new president.

He gave Mr Mesa, who served as vice-president under Mr Sanchez de Lozada, 90 days to fulfil demands to abandon the gas project and US-backed coca eradication programme or face new protests.

Congressman Evo Morales, a leader of coca-growers and the Movement Towards Socialism (MAS), said he would support reform under Mr Mesa but the state would have to abandon neo-liberal economic policies.

"Within a month, he has to start giving some clear signs," Mr Morales told the Associated Press news agency.

"If not, once again, the people will take to the streets," he added.