AlHijjah 13, 1432, Nov 9, 2011, SPA -- Police have clashed with protesting oil workers in front of Colombia's two largest oil refineries. Television images showed police using tear gas against demonstrators at the two refineries operated by the state oil company, Ecopetrol. Oil workers union president Rodolfo Vecino says 31 workers were beaten and injured by police at the installations in Cartagena and Barrancabermeja. His union represents about 22,000 workers, about a quarter of the South American nation's oil labor force, AP reported. The workers are not on strike, but are protesting the recent firing of 4,700 workers and are demanding improved salaries. Ecopetrol says production was not affected.
