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Clashes at Santiago demonstration Hundreds arrested at Chile demo
(about 5 hours later)
Police using tear gas and water cannon have clashed with demonstrators in the Chilean capital, Santiago. More than 80 people have been arrested. More than 400 people have been arrested after police using tear gas and water cannon clashed with demonstrators in the Chilean capital, Santiago.
The protest has been organised by the country's largest trade union federation against the government's free-market economic policies. The worst clashes occurred as marchers tried to approach the government palace, La Moneda. Among the 100 or so injured was a socialist senator.
The worst clashes occurred as marchers tried to approach the government palace, La Moneda. The day-long protest was called by Chile's largest trade union federation against free-market economic policies.
Demonstrators blocked roads in several parts of the city, causing chaos. But it was used by many to voice their opposition to the government.
They marched in several cities around the country. Outside the capital they were mostly peaceful.
Appeal for dialogueAppeal for dialogue
Organisers said it would be the biggest protest since the country returned to democracy 17 years ago, after nearly two decades of military rule. There were clashes throughout the day in Santiago, where riot police tried to stop demonstrators moving on the government palace.
They said it was to express their anger against neo-liberal economic policies, but discontent with President Michelle Bachelet's government has been steadily mounting since she took office early last year. The marchers threw stones, while the police responded with teargas and water cannon.
She is reported to be upset that several senior members of her own government took part in the demonstration and said she refused to accept that her dedication to social justice was not being recognised. Socialist senator Alejandro Navarro was injured. A police spokesman later apologised.
She appealed for dialogue rather than violence. President Michelle Bachelet said there was space within Chilean democracy for people to express their demands but it should be done peacefully.
Chile's economy is one of the strongest in Latin America but there is a growing gap between rich and poor. Democracy, she added, did not need disorder and violence.
This protest is the latest in a series of violent demonstrations in Chile in recent months, calling among other things for more money to be spent on state education and against a new transport policy for Santiago. Chile has one of the strongest economies in Latin America but still suffers from high unemployment and increasing poverty.
The popularity of President Bachelet's government has slumped, with Chileans regularly taking to the streets to demonstrate, among other things, against unemployment, the education system and poor public transport.