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The Americas

Bolivia police, workers clash at protest over plant shutdown

Associated Press
Published | Updated
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    A riot police is silhouetted against a cloud of tear gas during a protest led by laid-off textile workers, in La Paz, Bolivia, Wednesday, May 18, 2016. Workers of Bolivia's largest textile company marched in protest after the government announced its closure after the failure of a state bailout plan. (AP Photo/Juan Karita) (The Associated Press)

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    An injured textile worker is assisted by riot police, after a stick of dynamite exploded in his hand before he could launch it onto a street, during a protest led by laid-off textile workers, in La Paz, Bolivia, Wednesday, May 18, 2016. Workers of Bolivia's largest textile company marched in protest after the government announced its closure after the failure of a state bailout plan. (AP Photo/Juan Karita) (The Associated Press)

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    A demonstrator directs a torchlike firework at riot police during a protest led by laid-off textile workers, in La Paz, Bolivia, Wednesday, May 18, 2016. Workers of Bolivia's largest textile company marched in protest after the government announced its closure after the failure of a state bailout plan. (AP Photo/Juan Karita) (The Associated Press)

LA PAZ, Bolivia – Anti-riot police and workers clashed in Bolivia's capital during a protest against the government's decision to close the country's largest state-run textile company.

Officials said police fired tear gas at protesters and kept them from seizing a factory Wednesday. Several people were injured, including a protester who lost a hand when a stick of dynamite exploded as he tried to throw it.

More than 800 people were laid off when President Evo Morales closed the ENATEX national textile company Monday.

More than 5,000 workers joined in the protest led by the COB union, which has been a Morales ally.

The factory went into crisis after Bolivia lost its U.S. market when Morales expelled the American ambassador in 2008. Morales' administration bought the factory in 2011 to save it from bankruptcy.