JAKARTA, March 16 (Xinhuanet) -- Protests against U.S. gold miner Freeport McMoran in Indonesia's eastern province of Papua turned to violence Thursday as protesters held two police officers inside the building of a local university.

    "Two members of the mobile brigade with the Papua police are being held in the Cendrawasih University campus," national police spokesman Brig. Gen. Anton Bachrul Alam told reporters here.

    Several officers were injured in the clash and immediately sentto the nearest hospital, he said.

    "We will increase our strength if tension escalates, but I hopeit won't be necessary," he said.

    Local news website Detikcom reported the rally, which entered its second day, involved hundreds of students and other people.

    Riot police used tear gas and sticks to control the mob. The clash broke as protesters refused to open street blockade in front of Cendrawasih University, some 4,000 km east of Jakarta.

    Freeport, the world's largest gold miner, has been under fire for environment damage and doing little to increase the standard of living of local communities.

    Papuan people last month blocked the way leading to the Freeport mine after local miners who earned income by prospecting Freeport's waste were expelled from the mine. Enditem