Interim Management Statement

MERRILL LYNCH LATIN AMERICAN INVESTMENT TRUST PLC

Interim Management Statement- 3 months to 31 March 2008

To the members of Merrill Lynch Latin American Investment Trust PLC

This interim management statement has been produced solely to provide
additional information to shareholders as a body to meet the relevant
requirements of the UK Listing Authority's Disclosure & Transparency Rules. It
should not be relied on by any other party for any other reason.

This interim management statement relates to the period from 1 January 2008 to
31 March 2008, and contains information that covers this period, and up to the
date of publication of this interim management statement. Please note more
detailed performance information is available on the Investment Manager's
website-www.blackrock.co.uk/its.

The Company's objective is to secure long term capital growth primarily through
investing in quoted securities in Latin America. The Company is managed by Will
Landers of BlackRock Merrill Lynch Investment Managers.

Stock Performance

Cumulative Performance(%):

                                   One      Three        One       Five
                                                                       
                                 Month     Months       Year      Years
                                                                       
Net Asset Value                  -5.4%      -4.2%      30.1%     604.1%
                                                                       
Share Price                      -9.6%      -4.2%      30.1%     825.2%
                                                                       
MSCI EM Latin America Index      -3.4%      -1.4%      40.1%     676.0%

All performance figures are in $ on a total return basis.

Ten Largest Equity Holdings at 31 March2008

Ambev Cia de Bebidas

América Móvil

Banco Bradesco

Banco Itaú

CVRD

Grupo Financiero Banorte

Petrobrás

Tenaris

Unibanco

Usiminas

Financial position and performance as at 31 March 2008

Gross Assets ($m)                            507
                                                
Short term borrowings ($m)                     -
                                                
Net asset value-cents*                   1060.15
                                                
Net asset value-cents**                  1062.50   
                                                
Share Price-cents***                   1031.500p
                                                
Ordinary Shares in Issue              47,789,753
                                                
Actual Gearing                                 -
                                                
Discount to NAV*                            2.7%

*capital only

**including current year income

***1.9906 GBP-USD Exchange Rate Used

Material Events & Transactions

At a general meeting held on 22 April 2008 shareholders voted in favour of a
resolution to change the Company's name to BlackRock Latin American Investment
Trust plc. It is expected that the change will take effect on 25 April
2008.There were no other material events or transactions during the period.

Material Transactions

The Board is not aware of any material events or transactions, except as
disclosed herein, occurring between 31 March 2008 and the date of publication
of this interim management statement which would have a material impact on the
financial position of the Company. Latest information is available by typing, 
www.blackrock.co.uk/its on the internet, "BLRKINDEX" on Reuters, "BLRK" on
Bloomberg or "8800" on Topic 3 (ICV terminal).

Contact details:

Barbara Powley

Company Secretary

Tel: [phone]

22 April 2008