MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

All ready for the next Bolivian confrontation.

The delicate political situation in Bolivia edged higher when President Carlos Mesa, as he had anticipated, formally presented Monday his resignation before Congress which now has 48 hours to accept or reject it.

After seventeen months in office and overwhelmed by street unrest and political turmoil promoted by a strong radicalized unions movement who want a complete nationalization of the country's rich mineral resources, Mr. Mesa unexpectedly announced Sunday night in a national address his resignation.

In October 2003 Mr. Mesa's predecessor elected president Sanchez de Losada had to flee the country following a similar situation involving taxing and nationalization particularly of oil which erupted in several weeks national strike and street uprising and looting finally squashed by the Army with mush loss of lives.

Bolivian Congress has three options, (in the absence of a vice president) accept the resignation and name Senate president Hormando Vaca Diez. If this is not possible the other option is the president of the Lower Chamber Mario Cossio and finally the president of the Supreme Court Eduardo Rodriguez.

However since the current administration started in 2002 (Sanchez de Losada took office August 2002) and three years have not yet elapsed in the case of Mr. Rodriguez, he would be constitutionally mandated to call new president and vice-president elections. But the 27 Senators and 130 Deputies by simple majority can vote to confirm Mr. Mesa who has a strong urban support.

Anticipating this possibility Evo Morales leader of the opposition and head of the strong Indian and unions' movement that is promoting the street unrest described Mr. Mesa's resignation as "political blackmail".

The president's spokesperson Jose Antonio Galindo rejected Mr. Morales claims and said that pushing oil royalties from 18 to 50%, (as demanded by the radicals) is non sustainable in any part of the world, "the oil industry, oil corporations, international organizations and countries such as United States would simply not accept such rules of the game".

But Mr. Galindo also highlighted that "no tanks will roll out, no troops will unblock highways, and there won't be any shooting, no killings among Bolivians".

The Bolivian Armed Forces in a public release ratified their subordination to President Mesa and full support for democracy and the rule of the law.

"Until Congress does not make a decision the constitutional president and Captain General of the Armed Forces is Carlos Mesa", said the release calling on all Bolivians to preserve the rule of the law, "the only condition which ensures peace and the development of the country".

They finally recall that the Armed Forces job is "to guarantee the country's unity and impose the rule of the law as the legitimate and legal arm of the Bolivian people".

United States also expressed support for President Mesa and called on all political leaders to work together towards a national consensus to ensure a more stable and prosperous Bolivia.

"We hope the current political crisis is solved in a peaceful and democratic way, in accordance with what it established in the Bolivian constitution", said Richard Boucher from the State Department.

But Felipe Quispe, leader of the Aymara Indians, another radical group, warned that if Congress ratifies Mr. Mesa the protests will continue with road blocks, economic strangling and occupation of police stations, Army barracks and town halls.

"(Mr. Mesa) is a servant of the multinational corporations, and it's no good having a man who has sold the country as president", highlighted Mr. Quispe adding the only possible solution is a transition government headed by he president of the Supreme Court. "People have lost faith in Congress. Too many dollars have circulated in Parliament and too many Congress members have been seduced by multinational corporations' dollars". "With new elections Bolivians will finally be self ruled by an eagle-nosed Indian faithful to our own communitarian model", forecasted Mr. Quispe.