La Paz, Bolivia ? Bolivia’s president said Saturday the government should expropriate mines where private owners have not invested sufficiently, taking aim at the industry after clashes between rival bands of miners left at least 16 dead.

The violence began Thursday morning when the independent miners stormed the state-owned Huanuni mine, 180 miles south of La Paz, which holds Bolivia’s richest tin deposits. They were demanding more access to the tin deposits. State-employed miners counterattacked to regain control and the groups exchanged gunshots and threw dynamite, killing at least 16 people and injuring at least 60.

On Friday, Bolivian President Evo Morales replaced his minister of mines and the head of the state mining company.