Chilean police turn on student protests

Students in Chile have clashed with police during protests in the capital Santiago.

The protesters took to the streets on May 30th, calling for education reforms.

Although the protests began with singing and dancing, police turned on the, largely secondary school age, crowd with tear gas and water cannons.

The Foreign Office routinely warns travellers to Chile that the police frequently use such tactics against protesters, advising them to avoid any public demonstration.

However, Chile is still regarded as politically stable, boasting a multi party democracy.

Student leaders and education ministers will meet today (May 31st) in a bid to resolve the dispute, although at least one more day of protest is planned.

A mutually satisfactory resolution is seen as an important political test for the new prime minister Michelle Bachelet, who is said to be sympathetic with the protesters, agreeing that the education system needs reforming.