The Bolivian cabinet of 15 ministersresigned Tuesday amid a gas dispute, presidential spokesman Oswaldo Candia said.

The political crisis emerged after an alleged strife between Mines and Hydrocarbon Minister Antonio Aranibar and Economic Development Minister Xavier Nogales over the controversial issue of gas exports, reports reaching here from Bolivian political capital of La Paz said.

Aranibar stood by selling gas to Argentina, but Nogales and radical opposition argued that Argentina might export the gas to Chile, which deprived Bolivia of its sea outlets in a war years ago.

The reports also said alleged pressure from the US Embassy in La Paz to force the resignation of Interior Minister Alfonso Ferrufino over the anti-drug policy also contributed to the crisis.

This is the first serious political blow sustained by PresidentCarlos Mesa, who was sworn in last October.

Source: Xinhua