*

Bridge explosions follow deadly car bomb outside shopping

mall

*

Minister points to recent crackdown on illegal mining

*

Noboa cites illegal mining as reason to end diesel

subsidies

*

Major Indigenous groups continue protests over diesel

costs

(Adds protest ending in paragraphs 9-13)

By Alexandra Valencia

QUITO, Oct 15 (Reuters) -

The detonation of explosive devices on two bridges in

Ecuador early on Wednesday was retaliation for a major military

operation against illegal miners, the country's interior

minister said.

Interior Minister John Reimberg indicated that authorities

suspected the criminal group Los Lobos, recently designated a

terrorist organization by Washington, was responsible.

"The line we are pursuing is one of retaliation for what

we have been doing in Imbabura (province), in terms of

controlling the strike and cracking down on illegal mining,"

Reimberg told a press briefing in the northern city of Otavalo.

No injuries were reported and no arrests have been made.

Infrastructure Minister Roberto Luque suggested the attacks were

intended to disrupt traffic.

One explosion damaged the base of a bridge in the province

of Guayas, while another device only partially detonated in the

province of Azuay.

The bridge explosions occurred just hours after a car

bomb went off outside a shopping mall in Guayaquil, Ecuador's

largest city, late on Tuesday, leaving one dead and several

injured. A second vehicle containing explosives was found nearby

but was deactivated.

Ecuador's military and air force on Monday destroyed several

illegal mine entrances, which the army said were operated by

organized crime groups seeking to protect a key income source.

Seven people were arrested in the military operation.

Reimberg said some of those arrested belonged to the dissident

Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) group.

DIESEL SUBSIDIES PROTESTS

Indigenous communities in Otavalo, Imbabura province, said

on Wednesday they were withdrawing to their territories and

ending a prolonged protest over diesel subsidies after reaching

an agreement with the government to begin technical meetings to

discuss their demands.

Otavalo has been a focal point for demonstrations organized

by CONAIE, Ecuador's largest Indigenous organization, since late

September, following President Daniel Noboa's decision to end

diesel subsidies.

Noboa has defended the subsidy cuts, arguing that

state-funded diesel was being diverted to illegal mining and

smuggling.

Local Indigenous leaders reported one death in a

hospital after clashes with security forces on Tuesday in

Otavalo and said another protester died in the area last month.

Indigenous groups also reported at least 50 injuries,

while the government said 13 military officers were hurt in the

clashes.

Last week, Noboa's convoy was attacked in a rural town, with

rocks thrown at his car.

The president, speaking in Guayaquil on Wednesday, asserted

that criminal groups were attempting to destabilize the

government and prevent it from addressing Ecuadoreans' needs.