Minister beaten to death by striking miners in Bolivia

A Bolivian minister has been tortured to death after being kidnapped by striking miners, the nation's government said.

Up to 100 people have been arrested as authorities vowed to punish those responsible for the brutal killing of Rodolfo Illanes, who had sought to negotiate with protesters.

"At this present time, all the indications are that our deputy minister Rodolfo Illanes has been brutally and cowardly murdered," government minister Carlos Romero said.

Romero said Illanes went to talk to protesters earlier on Thursday in Panduro, around 100 miles from the capital La Paz, but was captured by striking miners.

Defence Minister Reymi Ferreira broke down on television as he described how Illanes had been "beaten and tortured to death".

The government was working to recover the body of the slain minister, who was appointed to his post in March.

Ferreira confirmed Illanes' assistant had escaped and was being treated in a hospital in La Paz.

"This crime will not go unpunished. Authorities are investigating ... around 100 people have been arrested," Ferreira said.

Protests by miners demanding changes to laws turned violent this week after a main road was blockaded.

Two workers were killed on Wednesday after being shot by police and the government said 17 police officers had been wounded.

Protesters have been demanding more mining concessions, the right to work for private companies, and greater union representation.

The vast majority of miners in Bolivia, one of South America's poorest countries, work in cooperatives, scraping a living producing silver, tin and zinc.