The Bolivian presidency passed last night to Eduardo Rodriguez, the chief justice of the Supreme Court, to clear the way for speedy elections in the Andean country which has been in political crisis for the last two weeks.

President Rodriguez was sworn in late last night after an emergency session of Congress in Bolivia's historic capital of Sucre, 450 miles south east of La Paz. The meeting of the legislature, which was moved from the capital where protests have threatened to run out of control, was disrupted throughout the day by angry demonstrations.

On taking office, President Rodriguez, 49, promised to call elections soon and to take measures to calm the disorder which has spread throughout the country and claimed its first life yesterday. He stressed that he would be a transitional president.

"Bolivia deserves better days," he said. "I’m convinced that one of my tasks will be to begin an electoral process to renew and continue building a democratic system that is more just."

Mr Rodriguez became head of state after Congress accepted the resignation of President Carlos Mesa, who offered to leave his post on Monday. Under Bolivia's constitution, the next two lawmakers eligible for the presidency were Senate leader Hormando Vaca Diez and House leader Mario Cossio.

But both men, who represent the traditional governing elite in Bolivia, dubbed the "mafia of the oligarchy" by protesters, rejected the job and left the way for Mr Rodriguez to assume the presidency and call elections.

Back in La Paz, where people danced in the streets on hearing the news, former president Mesa, who has warned that the current situation could descend into civil war, left office wishing the new president luck:

"This decision will work to bring about the pacification of the country," Mr Mesa said. "I wish my successor the greatest success. Now may the country return to normalcy."

The challenges facing President Rodriguez, who is expected to call elections to take place within six months, are enormous and growing. Great sectors of the Bolivian population -- its indigenous communities, coca leaf farmers, miners, labourers and students -- feel excluded from political representation and access to the country's natural resources. Meanwhile the more prosperous southern and eastern parts of the country want autonomy from the rest of Bolivia.

President Rodriguez is expected to call a "constitutional assembly" to consider ways to increase political representation for those who feel excluded, and a referendum on autonomy. It is thought he will have to make some move towards nationalising the country's oil and gas industry, the key demand of opposition groups and the issue which has claimed the scalps of the last two presidents.

Since May 16, protests have spread across the country, with blockades and street demonstrations strangling the roads leading into La Paz. Opposition groups have seized oil installations, the national airline has suspended flights and the country's air traffic controllers have gone on strike.

And yesterday the army fired on protesters for the first time, killing the 52-year-old leader of a group of miners who were trying to storm a police checkpoint outside Sucre.

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