La Paz (Bolivia): Bolivian officials said today they have arrested two men who may have been planning to kill President Evo Morales.

Police said the two were arrested yesterday at the El Trompillo airport in the eastern city of Santa Cruz minutes before Morales was scheduled to arrive. They said one of the suspects carried a rifle with a telescopic sight and rounds of ammunition.

"The government has well-founded reasons to believe this involves an attempted assassination," said Sacha Llorenti, deputy minister of social movements, at a news conference.

Officials had not yet filed charges against the two men today.

The Interior Ministry, in charge of security, said the two men were members of a conservative Santa Cruz youth group that has led protests against Morales leftist policies.

Relatively wealthy Santa Cruz has been a center of opposition to Bolivia's first Indian president and the region's leaders are trying to win greater autonomy from the national government.

Morales visit to the region went on as scheduled, but with heavy security.

Source : PTI