Miners clash with police in Chile

Thousands of miners in Chile have clashed with police in Santiago in support of striking workers at Codelco, the world’s top copper producer.

The industrial action by Codelco employees is their first national strike in nearly two decades. Union leaders fear a major restructuring plan ordered by President Sebastian Pinera could lead to benefit cuts and huge layoffs.

In what disintegrated into a running street battle, police arrested at least two protesters.

The president’s modernisation plans have been described as a disguised bid to privatise the state run company.

Copyright © 2012 euronews