Police fire at workers in South Africa wine region

[NewsCaster]

Nic Bothma / EPAStriking workers blocked a road and set a bulldozer ablaze in South Africa.By Wendell Roelf, ReutersDE DOORNS, South Africa -- Police fired rubber bullets and stun grenades Wednesday at hundreds of striking farm workers who blocked a highway in the grape-growing Western Cape, heart of South Africa's multibillion-dollar wine region.

The strikers had piled burning tires across the main highway through the town of De Doorns, 60 miles east of Cape Town, to demand higher wages, a Reuters reporter on the scene said.

Four people were hospitalized for minor injuries from rubber bullets as police dispersed the crowd, an emergency worker said.

"I can confirm that 41 people have been arrested, but that number could rise," said police spokesman Andre Traut.

The strikers set bushes, a bulldozer and a trailer on fire, sending smoke billowing into the sky.

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