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Miners from general strike-paralyzed highlands city battle police in Bolivia's capital

Associated Press
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Miners from Bolivia's Potosi region shout "Respect Potosi!" as they protest in La Paz, Bolivia, Wednesday, July 22, 2015, before cutting off dialogue with the government. Residents in the capital city of Potosi have held a general strike for more than two weeks to pressure the national government to respond to their demands for a better hospital, an operable airport and a cement factory, among other things to revamp the economy. (AP Photo/Juan Karita) (The Associated Press)

Women police in full riot gear braid each others hair before clashes with protesting miners from Bolivia's Potosi region, in La Paz, Bolivia, Wednesday, July 22, 2015. Residents in the capital city of Potosi have held a general strike for more than two weeks to pressure the national government to respond to their demands for a better hospital, an operable airport and a cement factory, among other things to revamp the economy. (AP Photo/Juan Karita) (The Associated Press)

Miners from Bolivia's Potosi region wait as their representatives dialogue with the government, before they broke off the talks in La Paz, Bolivia, Wednesday, July 22, 2015. Residents in the capital city of Potosi have held a general strike for more than two weeks to pressure the national government to respond to their demands for a better hospital, an operable airport and a cement factory, among other things to revamp the economy. (AP Photo/Juan Karita) (The Associated Press)

Hundreds of miners from a strike-paralyzed city in Bolivia's highlands have battled police in the capital of La Paz.

Miners threw rocks through windows of the Ministry of Government and then tossed small dynamite charges at police after officers used tear gas. A fire that broke out in pine trees at the adjacent German Embassy was quickly extinguished.

No injuries were reported in Wednesday's clashes as hundreds more protesters marched in the capital showing support for a civic committee that is seeking to negotiate an end to a 16-day-old general strike in Potosi, a provincial capital.

Potosi depends heavily on mining and its residents have been hit hard by a slump in mineral prices. They are demanding the central government put more money into public works projects.