British students clash with police
2010-12-09 17:21
London - Angry demonstrators clashed with police in a student protest outside parliament on Thursday as the coalition government faced its biggest test yet in a vote on proposals to triple university tuition fees.
Students surged into Parliament Square, in front of the Houses of Parliament, as lawmakers prepared to vote on moves to allow universities in England to charge annual fees of up to £9 000.
Demonstrators clashed with police and tried to break through barricades erected around parliament, trying to hurl sections of fencing at the line of officers.
A smoke bomb was thrown, echoing violence in previous protests against the plans.
Many students held placards in Parliament Square, while other demonstrators headed towards Buckingham Palace.
The proposal to raise fees has exposed tension within the Conservative-Liberal Democrat coalition which came to power in May.
