Injuries, arrests in Bolivia workers' protests

Clashes between police and factory workers in Bolivia resulted in dozens of injuries and arrests during protests against policies under President Evo Morales, various sources reported.

The incidents took place in the city of Cochabamba, 400 kilo meters (250 miles) east of La Paz, where police used tear gas to clear a major road demonstrators had blocked.

Four policemen were injured when protesters threw stones at them, Interior Minister Carlos Romero told a news conference.

Union leader Angel Camacho told reporters separately that more than 60 demonstrators were arrested and several wounded by "these cowardly policemen".

Elsewhere on Wednesday, protesters organised street marches and roadblocks in six of the country's nine regions during the beginning of a three-day strike led by the Provincial Workers Central (COB) union, the country's largest.

Previously allied to Morales, the COB was protesting the closure of a state textile factory along with laws changing standards for public enterprises, pensions and officials' rights.

The workers in Cochabamba began their protests last week with marches and roadblocks.

Several of the COB's chapters are demanding the annulment of a political agreement the union signed with Morales's government in 2013, arguing that their appeals are not being heard.