Protesters in Chile clashed with police, looted stores and endured a strong earthquake at the close of a huge rally kicking off the third week of anti-government demonstrations that have sparked deadly unrest.

Protesters in Chile clashed with police, looted stores and endured a strong earthquake at the close of a huge rally kicking off the third week of anti-government demonstrations that have sparked deadly unrest. Tens of thousands of people gathered in Plaza de Italia, the epicenter of the unrest over economic inequality and other woes, and tried to march on the presidential palace in downtown Santiago. Fights broke out with police trying to contain them, with officers firing water cannons and tear gas. One officer was hit in the face with a Molotov cocktail. People banged pots and pans and blared the horns of their cars as night fell in Santiago. Barricades were set up for the first time -- near a shopping mall that features the tallest skyscraper in Latin America. The 6.0 magnitude earthquake hit just as tensions were rising in Santiago, rattling buildings. A strong and prolonged shaking was felt, but there were no reports of injuries or damage. Looting and vandalism was reported in the cities of Vina del Mar, Valparaiso and Concepcion. Protesters angry at the high cost of living, the gap between rich and poor, tight pensions and expensive health care are demanding the resignation of conservative President Sebastian Pinera. Pinera held talks with opposition parties last week but they said he failed to convince them he has the will to make the necessary changes to calm the protests. Prosecutors say 20 people have died in unrest since the protests began on October 20. A UN human rights mission is investigating allegations of police brutality. Pinera tried to crack down on the riots in the first week but the bid backfired. He was forced to cancel the hosting of two major international summits including the COP climate meeting due to the unrest. Protesters organized rallies on Monday under the slogan "This is not over." Some citizens returned to work despite vandalism that has damaged the underground train network. "The fight goes on, but we have to get the country up and running again," said one commuter, accountant Olga Perez. "It won't help anyone if the country falls into a slump." Protesters are calling for constitutional reform. Chile's current constitution dates back to the 1973-1990 dictatorship of Augusto Pinochet. A survey by pollster Cadem published on Sunday indicated that 87 percent of Chileans favored such reforms. The study indicated Pinera's approval rating had plunged to 13 percent. The government said Chile's economy grew three percent in September but it forecast a contraction of 0.5 percent in October due to the unrest.

Mega-rally marks Chile protests third week as president struggles

Thousands of people in cities across Algeria called on President Abdelaziz Bouteflika to leave office on Friday in the country's biggest anti-government demonstrations since the Arab Spring eight years ago.

The protests were mostly peaceful but scuffles broke out in the capital Algiers between police and protesters near the presidential palace, witnesses said.

One person died, according to a local official. Local media said it was a 60-year-old man who suffered a heart attack.

Several protesters and policemen were wounded during clashes in Algiers, state television said. News website TSA put the number of wounded at 63, citing official figures. It said 45 people were detained.

Large scale demonstrations - rarely seen in Algeria - against plans for Bouteflika to seek a fifth term in power in April elections began a week ago, but Friday saw the biggest turnout yet.

The 81-year-old suffered a stroke in 2013 and has been seen in public only a few times since. His re-election bid stoked resentment among Algerians who believe he is not fit to lead.

Bouteflika, who will turn 82 on Saturday, has not directly addressed the protests. The authorities said last week he would travel to Geneva for unspecified medical checks, although there was no official confirmation he had travelled.

Thousands of people in cities across Algeria called on President Abdelaziz Bouteflika to leave office on Friday in the country's biggest anti-government demonstrations since the Arab Spring eight years ago.

Thousands of people in cities across Algeria called on President Abdelaziz Bouteflika to leave office on Friday in the country's biggest anti-government demonstrations since the Arab Spring eight years ago. The protests were mostly peaceful but scuffles broke out in the capital Algiers between police and protesters near the presidential palace, witnesses said. One person died, according to a local official. Local media said it was a 60-year-old man who suffered a heart attack. Several protesters and policemen were wounded during clashes in Algiers, state television said. News website TSA put the number of wounded at 63, citing official figures. It said 45 people were detained. Large scale demonstrations - rarely seen in Algeria - against plans for Bouteflika to seek a fifth term in power in April elections began a week ago, but Friday saw the biggest turnout yet. The 81-year-old suffered a stroke in 2013 and has been seen in public only a few times since. His re-election bid stoked resentment among Algerians who believe he is not fit to lead. Bouteflika, who will turn 82 on Saturday, has not directly addressed the protests. The authorities said last week he would travel to Geneva for unspecified medical checks, although there was no official confirmation he had travelled.

One dead as protesting Algerians call on President Bouteflika to step down

Two people were shot dead in protests in Iran bringing to four the number of fatalities in the country`s most serious unrest since 2009 and messages on social media called for more anti-government demonstrations on Monday.

The two were killed on Sunday in the southwestern town of Izeh and several others were injured, ILNA news agency quoted the local member of parliament Hedayatollah Khademi as saying.

&quot;I do not know whether yesterday`s shooting was done by rally participants or the police and this issue is being investigated,&quot; Khademi was quoted as saying.

Messages on social media urged Iranians to hold rallies in the capital Tehran and 50 other urban centres, many of which have already seen four days of unrest since price protests in the second largest city Mashhad on Thursday turned political.

Protests continued overnight even though President Hassan Rouhani appealed for calm. He said Iranians had the right to criticise authorities but warned of a crackdown against unrest.

&quot;The government will show no tolerance for those who damage public properties, violate public order and create unrest in the society,&quot; Rouhani said in remarks carried by state TV.&nbsp;

Tens of thousands of people have protested across the country against the Islamic Republic`s government and clerical elite, prompting authorities to warn of a tough crackdown.&nbsp;

Security forces have shown restraint, hoping to avoid an escalation of the crisis triggered by economic hardships and corruption. Anger soon turned to Iran`s clerical establishment in power since the 1979 revolution.

Some called on Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei to step down and chanted against a government they described as thieves.

The two were killed on Sunday in the southwestern town of Izeh and several others were injured, ILNA news agency quoted local member of parliament Hedayatollah Khademi as saying.

Two people were shot dead in protests in Iran bringing to four the number of fatalities in the country`s most serious unrest since 2009 and messages on social media called for more anti-government demonstrations on Monday. The two were killed on Sunday in the southwestern town of Izeh and several others were injured, ILNA news agency quoted the local member of parliament Hedayatollah Khademi as saying. "I do not know whether yesterday`s shooting was done by rally participants or the police and this issue is being investigated," Khademi was quoted as saying. Messages on social media urged Iranians to hold rallies in the capital Tehran and 50 other urban centres, many of which have already seen four days of unrest since price protests in the second largest city Mashhad on Thursday turned political. Protests continued overnight even though President Hassan Rouhani appealed for calm. He said Iranians had the right to criticise authorities but warned of a crackdown against unrest. "The government will show no tolerance for those who damage public properties, violate public order and create unrest in the society," Rouhani said in remarks carried by state TV. Tens of thousands of people have protested across the country against the Islamic Republic`s government and clerical elite, prompting authorities to warn of a tough crackdown. Security forces have shown restraint, hoping to avoid an escalation of the crisis triggered by economic hardships and corruption. Anger soon turned to Iran`s clerical establishment in power since the 1979 revolution. Some called on Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei to step down and chanted against a government they described as thieves.

Two people killed in Iran amid calls for fresh protests