QUITO, Ecuador, Jan 18 (Reuters) - Fifty-seven people were hurt and 23 arrested in Quito when police clashed on Wednesday with hundreds of Ecuadorean high school students protesting a planned rise in public transit fares, the Red Cross and police said.

Riot police fired tear gas to disperse students wielding sticks, rocks and home-made bombs in different parts of the Andean country's capital. The students were protesting a proposed 40 percent increase in fares sought by transit workers.

The Red Cross said it had treated 57 people, including two police officers, for minor injuries.

Interior Minister Alfredo Castillo tried to pacify protesters by telling reporters that a fare rise has not been approved by the president.