Bolivia's President Evo Morales (centre) rides with farmers in one of the 75 tractors that he presented to them during a ceremony in the rural community of Ayo-Ayo, near La Paz, on December 22. Reuters

CHICAGO, United States (Reuters):

The fire chief in Minneapolis, widely regarded as the first publicly acknowledged lesbian to occupy such a big-city post, was demoted on Friday in light of sexual harassment allegations against her by five firefighters.

Demotion announced

Minneapolis Mayor R.T. Rybak announced the demotion of Fire Chief Bonnie Bleskachek, 43, to an administrative job that included a US$40,000 cut in her annual pay.

"She will be completely and permanently stripped of ever holding leadership or management status in this city," Rybak said in a statement after the city council approved the arrangement.

Demotion accepted

Bleskachek's lawyer, Jerry Burg, said she had hoped to receive a lesser job as a fire chief captain coupled with a severance pay package, but said the city had reneged on an agreed deal. Nevertheless, she accepted the demotion, he said.

Since Bleskachek was elevated to the US$116,000-a-year post two years ago, five firefighters - four women and one man - have alleged she either sexually harassed or somehow was biased against them. The city settled two of the cases and was close to settling a third case involving three of the women.

Stellar career

Burg said his client had "Never been disciplined and had a stellar career," and denied the bulk of the allegations.

"It's been hell since March," when the allegations surfaced, Burg said. "She's been humiliated publicly."