18 killed in ongoing protests in Chile

SANAA, Oct. 24 (YPA) – Mass demonstrations continue in Chile in protest over increased public transport fares. The death toll rose to 18, as a result of violence and the intervention of security forces.

Protests across the country began about a week ago, rejecting the increase in public transport fares by 4%, and later turned violent, leaving 18 dead.

The latest death toll, announced on Tuesday, was eight. On Wednesday, thousands of protesters gathered in Santiago’s Plaza Italia to denounce the country’s president, Sebastián Piñera.
Demonstrators clashed with riot police who had to disperse the crowd using tear gas after protesters threw stones at them.

Unlike the capital, many areas of the country have been witnessing similar demonstrations and marches, some of them during clashes with security personnel, as well as incidents of looting of property.

E.M