<p class="title">Dozens of protesters were arrested and several people injured on Tuesday when police and demonstrators clashed outside an international mining conference in Melbourne.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Some 50 people were detained as mounted police forced back hundreds of protesters from the convention centre hosting the International Mining and Resources Conference.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Footage posted on social media showed police using pepper spray and batons to push back protesters, with one woman sent to hospital after allegedly being trampled or kicked by a horse.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Another protester was treated for head injuries at the scene while two police were also sent to hospital for treatment, police said.</p>.<p class="bodytext">More than 300 police officers have been deployed.</p>.<p class="bodytext">"The actions (of police) have been more than justified," Victoria Police acting commander Tim Tully told reporters after the heated altercation.</p>.<p class="bodytext">"It is in line with the training. It is in line with trying to facilitate a peaceful process," he added.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Most of the arrests relate to obstruction, Tully said, but two people were detained for "slapping a police horse in the face".</p>.<p class="bodytext">The annual mining conference is promoted as Australia's largest industry event, with thousands of delegates from over 100 countries expected to attend.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Australia has been actively engaged in the recent wave of climate protests across the globe.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Hundreds of thousands of children, parents, and supporters rallied across the country in September for the global climate strike led by students.</p>.<p class="bodytext">The Extinction Rebellion protests also have drawn thousands into the streets this month, with regular smaller targeted demonstrations taking place over the last couple of weeks.</p>.<p class="bodytext">The climate change protesters accused police of heavy-handed tactics on Tuesday.</p>.<p class="bodytext">"There has been some incredibly aggressive and intimating tactics from the police," protest organiser Emma Black told Channel Nine TV.</p>.<p class="bodytext">"Some of my friends have been thrown to the ground -- people that were just standing around doing nothing," she added.</p>
<p class="title">Dozens of protesters were arrested and several people injured on Tuesday when police and demonstrators clashed outside an international mining conference in Melbourne.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Some 50 people were detained as mounted police forced back hundreds of protesters from the convention centre hosting the International Mining and Resources Conference.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Footage posted on social media showed police using pepper spray and batons to push back protesters, with one woman sent to hospital after allegedly being trampled or kicked by a horse.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Another protester was treated for head injuries at the scene while two police were also sent to hospital for treatment, police said.</p>.<p class="bodytext">More than 300 police officers have been deployed.</p>.<p class="bodytext">"The actions (of police) have been more than justified," Victoria Police acting commander Tim Tully told reporters after the heated altercation.</p>.<p class="bodytext">"It is in line with the training. It is in line with trying to facilitate a peaceful process," he added.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Most of the arrests relate to obstruction, Tully said, but two people were detained for "slapping a police horse in the face".</p>.<p class="bodytext">The annual mining conference is promoted as Australia's largest industry event, with thousands of delegates from over 100 countries expected to attend.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Australia has been actively engaged in the recent wave of climate protests across the globe.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Hundreds of thousands of children, parents, and supporters rallied across the country in September for the global climate strike led by students.</p>.<p class="bodytext">The Extinction Rebellion protests also have drawn thousands into the streets this month, with regular smaller targeted demonstrations taking place over the last couple of weeks.</p>.<p class="bodytext">The climate change protesters accused police of heavy-handed tactics on Tuesday.</p>.<p class="bodytext">"There has been some incredibly aggressive and intimating tactics from the police," protest organiser Emma Black told Channel Nine TV.</p>.<p class="bodytext">"Some of my friends have been thrown to the ground -- people that were just standing around doing nothing," she added.</p>