Santiago march turns violent
2004-11-19 20:52
Santiago - Chilean anti-riot police fired water-cannon and tear gas on Friday at bands of stone-throwing protesters in a massive rally against a major Asia-Pacific summit.
Tens of thousands of activists had marched peacefully in the police-authorised demonstration against the weekend Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit and its star guest US President George W Bush.
But as the procession culminated with a concert in a central park, small knots of masked protesters destroyed telephone cabins, smashed lamps and lobbed stones at police and through the windows of a closed McDonalds restaurant.
Military-style police in armoured cars responded with water and tear gas, prompting an exodus from the park.
Organisers halted the concert.
- AFP