Clashes erupt at twin Bolivia demos

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Police in the Bolivian capital, La Paz, fired tear gas in clashes with two groups of protesters demanding to see President Evo Morales on Friday (June 8).

Sticks of dynamite were detonated during one march organised by the Bolivian Workers' Centre.

It's a common sight during mining protests in the country.

They're demanding nationalisation of the Colquiri mine in Inquisivi province near the capital.

Trouble has flared because salaried miners want to exploit a new vein of minerals owned by co-operative workers also employed at the site.

The other group involved miners from the north protesting over the continued presence of Canadian mining firm South American Silver in the Mallku Khota region.

Police tried to remove the indigenous miners as they stood outside the vice-presidential palace where Bolvia's government is based.

The miners, 5, 000 indigenous protesters from the north who arrived in La Paz as part of a campaign to press for the removal of the Canadian company, arrived in the city on Thursday (June 7)