3 Die in Romania as Miners Protest Soaring Prices

BUCHAREST, Romania —  Thousands of coal miners angry over skyrocketing prices stormed government headquarters Wednesday and fought police with firebombs, clubs, rocks and axes. Three people were killed.

The miners had commandeered trains in central Romania to bring their demands to Bucharest. Among the demands was that Prime Minister Petre Roman resign.

“We are not going to leave this town until Roman resigns,” their leader, Miron Cosma, said on television. “The responsibility for the dead is his.”

It was the largest and most violent protest in months against Roman’s tough market-oriented reforms, which have resulted in a sharp drop in living standards.

Miners make more than the average salary of 10,000 lei a month--about $169--but inflation is running at 170%.

Romania was already one of Europe’s poorest countries in the wake of decades of Communist dictatorship under Nicolae Ceausescu.

In addition to the three people killed, at least 25 officers were injured when miners fought police in fierce battles outside government headquarters, President Ion Iliescu said in a statement read on television.

In the melee, helmeted miners threw firebombs at the building, starting small fires. Police responded with tear gas, and choking clouds hung over the building.