Americas News
More than 200 held in riots on Chile coup anniversary
By DPA
Sep 12, 2006, 19:00 GMT

Santiago - More than 200 protesters were arrested after far- left activists clashed with police on the 33rd anniversary of the coup that brought former military dictator Augusto Pinochet to power, authorities said Tuesday.

After a second night of violence in the streets of Santiago, including gunfire, about 250,000 people in the capital's suburbs lost electricity after apparent acts of sabotage on power lines.

Police said 237 protesters were arrested and 78 police officers were injured in clashes Monday - the coup anniversary day - centred on schools and universities in Santiago.

It was the worst violence in years on the anniversary, which traditionally sparks protests. A 6-year-old girl was reported in critical condition after a bullet hit her in the head as she watched the clashes from a Santiago apartment.

Masked protestors built barricades on the central Alameda avenue and hurled Molotov cocktails at police, who responded with water cannon and tear gas.

Santiago Mayor Victor Barrueto blamed the unrest on 'anarchists, people who oppose the system.'

Chilean President Michelle Bachelet, who was a victim of Pinochet's secret police, condemned the violence. Already, at least 72 protesters were arrested after Sunday's violence, the government said.

Chilean media described the protesters as 'criminals' who took advantage of the dark to perpetrate acts of violence.

Pinochet led a military coup on September 11, 1973 that toppled Chile's elected president, socialist Salvador Allende, who died in the coup.

About 3,500 people were killed and tens of thousand suffered torture or were forced to go into exile during the general's dictatorship, which ended in 1990.

The most violent protests took place in Villa Francia, an area of Santiago traditionally identified with the extreme left. With some protesters wielding automatic weapons, shots rang out in poor areas of the capital during the violence.

Although 2,700 riot police were out in force late Monday and early Tuesday, cars and buses were attacked with stones, several individuals were mugged and pharmacies and small stores were looted.