Santiago march turns violent
19/11/2004 20:52  - (SA)  

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Demonstrators prepare to throw stones as they get hosed down by riot police during clashes in Santiago, Chile. (Roberto Candia, AP)

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.

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