Thousands of miners converged on downtown La Paz on Thursday, setting off small dynamite charges and attempting to breach the government palace before police responded with tear gas, according to the Associated Press.
The confrontation was the latest escalation in two weeks of spreading social unrest targeting the administration of President Rodrigo Paz, who took office late last year after nearly 20 years of one-party rule in Bolivia.
The miners marched on the capital demanding labor reforms and fuel, among other things, but as the day wore on, many in the crowd began calling for Paz's resignation. Dynamite detonations have become an increasingly common tactic during the current round of protests.
The capital has been further strained by blockades and marches that have paralyzed movement in and around the city. Earlier Thursday, rural schoolteachers marched through the city center to demand higher wages, adding to the pressure on downtown La Paz.
The current wave of demonstrations was originally sparked by farmers seeking the repeal of a law that permitted land mortgaging. President Paz signed a decree annulling that law Wednesday night and called for an end to the unrest, but the protests have continued to grow rather than subside.
