Mr Banzer waged war on the coca crop

But critics accused him of hurting the economy and allowing human rights abuses. Protests by farmers and indigenous groups led to clashes in which 20 people died.

Mr Banzer first came to power in a 1971 coup that began a seven-year military regime.

Human rights groups blame him for more than 200 "disappearances", some 3,000 political arrests, and for forcing several thousand political and trade union activists into exile.

Democratic era

In 1978 Mr Banzer formed his own political party, the Nationalist Democratic Action party (ADN). He stood several times as the ADN presidential candidate, before finally triumphing in 1997.

His deputy, Jorge Quiroga, was installed to complete Mr Banzer's current five-year presidential term, due to end in August 2002.

In his inauguration speech last summer, Mr Quiroga praised his predecessor, saying: "With our applause, let's honour the man, the leader, and the statesman who left deep footprints in our history."