Chilean students clash with police

2013-06-13 82

ROUGH CUT (NO REPORTER NARRATION)

STORY: Chilean students hurled Molotov cocktails and rocks at police in the latest mass demonstration to demand the government overhaul the educational system.

Most of the demonstrators -- which local reports indicated police had estimated at 45,000 while student organizers said there were more than 80,000 - remained peaceful as they marched through central Santiago streets carrying banners demanding free higher education and condemning conservative President Sebastian Pinera.

Students, both secondary and university, have led regular demonstrations, calling for a free and quality education for all Chileans since the protest movement started in 2011.

The protests have tainted Pinera's administration as student groups have staged scores of mass protests and garnered support from other social groups.

Several arrests were made though no official number was immediately available.