PRESS ASSOCIATION -- It has been a bittersweet anniversary for Chile's rescued miners, who were honoured as heroes in their home town only to come under attack by anti-government protesters.

Some demonstrators threw fruit and small stones at the miners, accusing them of being ungrateful, greedy sell-outs.

Chilean President Sebastian Pinera and his ministers joined most of the 33 miners at a Catholic Mass and then the inauguration of a regional museum exhibit recognising their remarkable survival story.

But the events were marred by scuffles between riot police and students, teachers, environmentalists and other miners, all trying to make Mr Pinera bow to their pressure on issues from reforming public education and increasing miners' pay to stopping controversial dams and power plants.

Some of the activists threw oranges and apples at the miners, accusing them of getting too cosy with Mr Pinera's government and trying to cash in on their fame.

The treatment shocked rescued miner Omar Reygadas into silence. His son told reporters in an interview that his father was deeply hurt to be accused of selling out to the government.

Other activists shouted that the miners were trying to get rich with their 17 million dollar (£10.3 million) lawsuit accusing Chile's mine regulator of failing to enforce safety requirements.

"My father was saddened, deeply saddened. He doesn't understand how people could act this way," said his son, also named Omar Reygadas. "When I got home I found him sitting alone, very sad. I asked him what happened and at first he wouldn't say anything, but gradually he let on what happened."

Some Chilean newspapers called the attack a low blow, especially considering how many of the miners still suffer from psychological problems after being stuck for 69 days underground.

"They aren't heroes ... they're victims who are simply trying to recover from their tragedy," El Diario de Atacama, Copiapo's hometown newspaper, printed under a picture showing riot police with a confiscated box of oranges and apples which activists had thrown.