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Summary Police used water cannons and tear gas against supporters of copper mine workers in Santiago.
Thousands of protesters marched in Santiago in support of copper miners who are on strike across the country. Police use water cannons and tear gas to disperse the protesters.The strike by Codelco workers is their first national strike in nearly two decades and the latest in a growing feud between workers and the government over the future of the worlds top copper miner.Codelco region is known for the largest copper mines in the world. Union leaders fear that the ongoing restructuring of Codelco -- ordered by conservative President Sebastian Pinera -- could lead to benefit cuts, huge layoffs and the sale of world-class deposits that are key to the states finances.
