fuel and life-saving medicine. The US-backed Paz, who took office six months ago amid the worst economic crisis here in four decades, is battling a groundswell of fury over his center-right policies. The political capital La Paz has been besieged by low-income workers and members of the majority Indigenous majority calling for his resignation. "The country needs order, and is reaching breaking point," the 58-year-old leader said at a public event in La Paz, renewing his appeal for dialogue. On Tuesday, Congress lifted restrictions on him announcing a state of emergency, paving the way for Paz to possibly deploy troops to restore order. Paz has so far emphasized the need for dialogue but has not ruled out using "constitutional instruments" to end the blockade of La Paz, an allusion to declaring a state of emergency. "Anyone who wants to destroy the nation will have to deal with this president and the full force of the Constitution”, he said on Wednesday, assuring the police and military that they had the public's support.

His warnings came as thousands of Indigenous women in traditional layered skirts marched through La Paz on Mother's Day in Bolivia, in support of striking transport workers. "We are not afraid to die. We have already told him to pack his bags and leave”, protestor Marta Poma Luque told AFP, referring to Paz. The demonstrations began in early May with demands for salary increases to help workers weather a severe economic crisis, stable fuel supplies and the rescinding of an unpopular agrarian reform. Despite some concessions by Paz, including on the land reform, the protests ballooned into a full-blown revolt. Over the past two weeks, La Paz has been turned into a battleground, with riot police repeatedly clashing with protesters. (Bssnews)