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Striking Spanish miners clash with police in Asturias | Striking Spanish miners clash with police in Asturias |
(40 minutes later) | |
Striking coal miners have clashed with police in northern Spain, in some of the worst disturbances since the government imposed austerity measures. | Striking coal miners have clashed with police in northern Spain, in some of the worst disturbances since the government imposed austerity measures. |
The interior ministry said at least seven people had been injured in the clashes outside a mine in Asturias. | The interior ministry said at least seven people had been injured in the clashes outside a mine in Asturias. |
Miners fired sky rockets and ball-bearings at riot police who responded with rubber bullets and tear gas. | Miners fired sky rockets and ball-bearings at riot police who responded with rubber bullets and tear gas. |
The miners are protesting at plans to cut government subsidies from 300m euros (£242m; $376m) to 110m euros. | The miners are protesting at plans to cut government subsidies from 300m euros (£242m; $376m) to 110m euros. |
Thousands of miners have been on strike across northern Spain for weeks. | Thousands of miners have been on strike across northern Spain for weeks. |
The interior ministry said police had been trying to remove roadblocks of burning tyres at El Entrego, near Oviedo, when they were met with a barrage of missiles fired by the miners. | The interior ministry said police had been trying to remove roadblocks of burning tyres at El Entrego, near Oviedo, when they were met with a barrage of missiles fired by the miners. |
Police fired tear gas and rubber bullets and after several hours of clashes the miners took to the surrounding mountains and forests for cover, reports said. | Police fired tear gas and rubber bullets and after several hours of clashes the miners took to the surrounding mountains and forests for cover, reports said. |
Visor smashed | Visor smashed |
A journalist suffered a chest injury caused by a rubber bullet and a policeman needed medical treatment after a ball-bearing smashed through his visor. | A journalist suffered a chest injury caused by a rubber bullet and a policeman needed medical treatment after a ball-bearing smashed through his visor. |
Three other police officers were burned by fireworks fired at them through pipes and two journalists suffered minor cuts and bruises, the interior ministry statement said. | Three other police officers were burned by fireworks fired at them through pipes and two journalists suffered minor cuts and bruises, the interior ministry statement said. |
Miner Gerardo Cienfuegos said about 4,000 mining jobs in the region were in danger of disappearing as a result of government austerity measures. | Miner Gerardo Cienfuegos said about 4,000 mining jobs in the region were in danger of disappearing as a result of government austerity measures. |
"We were protesting to defend our jobs and police charged at us, so my colleagues defended themselves," he said. | "We were protesting to defend our jobs and police charged at us, so my colleagues defended themselves," he said. |
Earlier this week, a rail passenger was injured in Gijon, Asturias, when his train hit logs that police said had been placed across rails by strikers. | Earlier this week, a rail passenger was injured in Gijon, Asturias, when his train hit logs that police said had been placed across rails by strikers. |
The Asturias regional government has condemned the violence but asked Madrid to rethink its plans. | The Asturias regional government has condemned the violence but asked Madrid to rethink its plans. |
Mining has been a major industry in the provinces of Asturias and Leon for centuries. | Mining has been a major industry in the provinces of Asturias and Leon for centuries. |
Spain is grappling with an economic crisis brought on by a collapsed property boom, and currently has the worst unemployment rate in the eurozone. | |
On Saturday, eurozone ministers agreed to lend Madrid up to 100bn euros ($125bn; £80bn) to help bail out its struggling banks. | |
The crisis has prompted Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy to impose an austerity drive. |
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