| Bolivia's government says three Cabinet | | | | and mining ministries. No violence has been |
| ministers have been kidnapped in a Bolivian | | | | reported. |
| town near the Brazilian border, in a dispute | | | | |
| over construction permits for foreign | | | | Local officials in Puerto Suarez support |
| investors. | | | | plans by a Brazilian company, E.B.X., to |
| | | | build a large steel foundry in the area, but |
| In the capital La Paz, Bolivia's defense | | | | Bolivia's national government says |
| minister Walker San Miguel, says local | | | | foreign-owned projects are forbidden within |
| residents seized the three ministers Tuesday. | | | | 50 kilometers of the border. |
| They are being held hostage in the | | | | |
| southeastern town of Puerto Suarez in Santa | | | | The proposed steel plant would lie near |
| Cruz province. | | | | Bolivia's famed El Mutun iron deposits - an |
| | | | orefield that may hold up to 70 percent of |
| The three abducted officials: Carlos | | | | the world's known reserves of iron and |
| Villegas, Celinda Sosa and Walter Villarroel | | | | magnesium.Some information for this report |
| head Bolivia's planning, economic development | | | | was provided by AFP and Reuters. |