LA PAZ — Bolivian President Rodrigo Paz announced he would reorganise his cabinet in a bid to ease tensions with antigovernment protesters. The move follows weeks of demonstrations against the economic reforms his government has pursued since he took office in November.

"We need to reorganise a cabinet that must be able to listen," Paz said. Thousands of farmers, labourers, miners and teachers have denounced the president's free-market reforms, which include cuts to fuel subsidies introduced as part of an economic restructuring program.

Riot police clashed with protesters in La Paz in recent days. Bolivia is experiencing one of its worst economic crises in decades.

Paz's inauguration ushered in a period of right-wing leadership after nearly two decades of governance by the Movement for Socialism. His government has depicted the protests as dangerous and anti-democratic and has accused former President Evo Morales of fomenting the unrest. Morales, who faces charges of statutory rape and has an arrest warrant issued against him, has expressed support for the demonstrations.

Foreign Minister Fernando Aramayo said the mass protests and roadblocks were aimed at destabilising the country and disrupting the democratic order. The Paz government has also rebuked Colombian President Gustavo Petro for describing the protests as a popular insurrection. The Bolivian Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced it would ask the Colombian ambassador to leave the country, citing interference in domestic political affairs.

The administration of U.S. President Donald Trump has expressed support for Paz.