© ReutersOut of favour: Bolivian President Evo Morales is under fire over rising prices, with protesters throwing dynamite at a march in Oruro yesterday
Mr Morales was due to speak on the anniversary of a colonial uprising in Oruro but canceled plans to participate in a march yesterday after demonstrations against rising food prices and shortages.
There were also protests in the Bolivian capital of La Paz, and the cities of Santa Cruz and Cochabamba.
The Bolivian populace are angry over a near doubling in the price of sugar after the government lifted subsidies.
The president's popularity has plummeted since he tried to lift subsidies on gasoline, flour and sugar in December.
He subsequently abandoned the effort - but did remove price controls on sugar.
As he prepared to deliver a speech in Oruro yesterday, the capital of his home province, protesters set off explosions to voice their unhappiness at the price rises.
'The government took the decision not to respond to shameful provocations of this kind,' presidential spokesman Ivan Canelas said after the leader returned to La Paz.
The demonstrators say the Emapa agency will discourage private commerce.
Mr Morales drew own his experiences as Bolivian leader last week while calling on African leaders to nationalise their mineral and petroleum resources.
'All of Africa's resources should be declared resources of the state and managed by the nation,' he said at the 2011 World Social Forum in Dakar.
'Our experience in Bolivia shows that when you take control of natural resources for the people of the town and village, major world change is possible.'
In his own nation, however, Mr Morales is facing opposition from groups who had formerly championed his ascent from a peasant upbringing to being named Bolivia's first indigenous president in 2005.
© AFP/Getty ImagesOutrage: Members of the union of retail sales vendors protest in La Paz against plans for a new government food production agency
© AFP/Getty ImagesDiscontent: Protesters believe the Emapa agency is responsible for rising sugar prices
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