Prominent World Leaders Who Died in 2024 

Alexei Navalny (1976-2024)

Ebrahim Raisi (1960-2024)

John Prescott (1938-2024)

Sebastián Pinera (1949-2024)

Alberto Fujimori (1938-2024)

Sartaj Aziz (1929-2024)

Seven world leaders, who served as the key position in prominent countries, died in 2024. The leaders include Alexei Navalny, Ebrahim Raisi, John Prescott, Sartaj Aziz

Prominent World Leaders Who Died in 2024

Chilean ex-President Sebastian Pinera died in a helicopter crash on Tuesday, sending the country he led for two terms into mourning and prompting an outpouring of condolences from leaders across Latin America.

The helicopter carrying Pinera, 74, and three others plunged into a lake in southern Chile. The former president was pronounced dead shortly after rescue personnel arrived at the scene. The other three passengers survived.

Two sources told Reuters Pinera was the pilot, although officials have not confirmed that, nor the helicopter's intended destination.

Pinera often spent the Southern Hemisphere summers near the picturesque lakes that dot Chile's south, and frequently piloted his own helicopter.

President Gabriel Boric declared three days of national mourning, while preparations have begun for a state funeral on Friday for the former leader, who served two non-consecutive terms between 2010 and 2022.

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Interior Minister Carolina Toha said the ex-president's body had been recovered from the lake, near the town of Lago Ranco.

"We remember him for the way he dedicated his life to public service," said Toha, who has been helping to lead efforts to battle deadly wildfires in recent days.

Pinera was perhaps best known abroad for his role overseeing the spectacular rescue in 2010 of 33 miners who were trapped underneath the Atacama desert. The event became a global media sensation and was the subject of a 2014 movie, "The 33."

In Chile, he was known as a successful businessman whose first term was boosted by rapid economic growth but who was often seen as out-of-touch with the country's fast-changing society.

Both his presidencies were marred by frequent protests - of students demanding education reform in the first term, and of wider and often violent protests against inequality in his second term that ended with the government promising to draft a new constitution.

After leaving the presidency, Pinera remained active in politics, speaking out on issues like the attempt to draft a new constitution - which ultimately failed - and backing conservative politicians in the region, including Argentine President Javier Milei.

Former Argentine President Mauricio Macri expressed his sadness at the news of Pinera's death. "He was a good person, committed like no one else to Chile and to the values of freedom and democracy in Latin America," he said.

<h2>BUSINESS SUCCESS</h2>

The son of a prominent centrist politician, Pinera was a Harvard-trained economist who made his fortune introducing credit cards to Chile in the 1980s.

He was also a major shareholder in the flagship airline formerly known as LAN, local soccer team Colo-Colo, and a television station, although he sold most of those holdings when he took over the presidency in March 2010. As of 2024, he was ranked 1,176 on Forbes' global rich list, with a net worth of $2.7 billion.

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Known for a driven and competitive personality, one friend described Pinera as someone who could be a bully, reluctant to delegate responsibility.

He was also a risk-taker who enjoyed deep-sea diving.

Running for election to the presidency after a spell as a center-right senator, he wooed moderate voters by portraying himself as the leader of a new right and an entrepreneur who made his fortune with hard work.

At the same time, he distanced himself from the 1973-1990 rule of General Augusto Pinochet, when more than 3,000 suspected leftists were killed or "disappeared."

He lost his first attempt at the top job in 2005 to popular center-left leader Michelle Bachelet, but she was barred constitutionally from running for a second consecutive term and in 2009 he beat ex-president Eduardo Frei by a small margin.

That ended the 20-year rule of the center-left and fended off the bitter memories of Pinochet's bloody dictatorship that had hurt the right in past elections.

His honeymoon with the electorate was short-lived, though, and his stiff manner contrasted with the more amiable Bachelet, who both preceded and succeeded him as president.

Despite plaudits for his government's economic record, many Chileans felt he did not do enough to tackle deep inequality or address inadequacies in the country's education system.

Pinera and his wife Cecilia Morel had four children.&nbsp;

Chilean ex-President Sebastian Pinera died in a helicopter crash on Tuesday, sending the country he led for two terms into mourning and prompting an outpouring of condolences from leaders across Latin America.

Chilean ex-President Sebastian Pinera died in a helicopter crash on Tuesday, sending the country he led for two terms into mourning and prompting an outpouring of condolences from leaders across Latin America. The helicopter carrying Pinera, 74, and three others plunged into a lake in southern Chile. The former president was pronounced dead shortly after rescue personnel arrived at the scene. The other three passengers survived. Two sources told Reuters Pinera was the pilot, although officials have not confirmed that, nor the helicopter's intended destination. Pinera often spent the Southern Hemisphere summers near the picturesque lakes that dot Chile's south, and frequently piloted his own helicopter. President Gabriel Boric declared three days of national mourning, while preparations have begun for a state funeral on Friday for the former leader, who served two non-consecutive terms between 2010 and 2022. ALSO READ | Qatar receives ‘positive’ response from Hamas on hostage deal; militant group calls for ‘permanent ceasefire’ Interior Minister Carolina Toha said the ex-president's body had been recovered from the lake, near the town of Lago Ranco. "We remember him for the way he dedicated his life to public service," said Toha, who has been helping to lead efforts to battle deadly wildfires in recent days. Pinera was perhaps best known abroad for his role overseeing the spectacular rescue in 2010 of 33 miners who were trapped underneath the Atacama desert. The event became a global media sensation and was the subject of a 2014 movie, "The 33." In Chile, he was known as a successful businessman whose first term was boosted by rapid economic growth but who was often seen as out-of-touch with the country's fast-changing society. Both his presidencies were marred by frequent protests - of students demanding education reform in the first term, and of wider and often violent protests against inequality in his second term that ended with the government promising to draft a new constitution. After leaving the presidency, Pinera remained active in politics, speaking out on issues like the attempt to draft a new constitution - which ultimately failed - and backing conservative politicians in the region, including Argentine President Javier Milei. Former Argentine President Mauricio Macri expressed his sadness at the news of Pinera's death. "He was a good person, committed like no one else to Chile and to the values of freedom and democracy in Latin America," he said. BUSINESS SUCCESS The son of a prominent centrist politician, Pinera was a Harvard-trained economist who made his fortune introducing credit cards to Chile in the 1980s. He was also a major shareholder in the flagship airline formerly known as LAN, local soccer team Colo-Colo, and a television station, although he sold most of those holdings when he took over the presidency in March 2010. As of 2024, he was ranked 1,176 on Forbes' global rich list, with a net worth of $2.7 billion. ALSO READ | India to fence 1643-kilometre Indo-Myanmar border: Home Minister Amit Shah Known for a driven and competitive personality, one friend described Pinera as someone who could be a bully, reluctant to delegate responsibility. He was also a risk-taker who enjoyed deep-sea diving. Running for election to the presidency after a spell as a center-right senator, he wooed moderate voters by portraying himself as the leader of a new right and an entrepreneur who made his fortune with hard work. At the same time, he distanced himself from the 1973-1990 rule of General Augusto Pinochet, when more than 3,000 suspected leftists were killed or "disappeared." He lost his first attempt at the top job in 2005 to popular center-left leader Michelle Bachelet, but she was barred constitutionally from running for a second consecutive term and in 2009 he beat ex-president Eduardo Frei by a small margin. That ended the 20-year rule of the center-left and fended off the bitter memories of Pinochet's bloody dictatorship that had hurt the right in past elections. His honeymoon with the electorate was short-lived, though, and his stiff manner contrasted with the more amiable Bachelet, who both preceded and succeeded him as president. Despite plaudits for his government's economic record, many Chileans felt he did not do enough to tackle deep inequality or address inadequacies in the country's education system. Pinera and his wife Cecilia Morel had four children.

Chile's former president Sebastian Pinera dies in helicopter crash

Chilean President Sebastian Pinera hailed the production of the first green hydrogen molecule in the country, setting the goal of becoming a leader in the clean energy sector.

Chile produces its first green hydrogen molecule

Hundreds of&nbsp;Chileans&nbsp;rallied Saturday night to protest what they call&nbsp;police&nbsp;repression&nbsp;during three months of the worst&nbsp;social&nbsp;unrest&nbsp;since democracy replaced the country's military dictatorship in 1990.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/chile-violent-clashes-erupt-in-new-round-of-protests-270712">Chile: Violent clashes erupt in new round of protests</a>

More than 1,000 people, many wearing black, marched in silence from Plaza Italia, ground zero of all the protests, along Alameda Avenue, the main thoroughfare in Chile's capital.

Keeping quiet was their way of denouncing the security forces' use of tear gas, water cannon and birdshot, although the latter was barred in November because it was causing many injuries.

"We are marching because of the human rights violations we have suffered. We will be here as long as is needed. This is the new Chile," said a&nbsp;social&nbsp;worker who gave her name only as Ana Maria.

Watch:&nbsp;Chilean protests turn violent as protesters show no sign of backing down

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The&nbsp;unrest&nbsp;broke out over a metro fare rise but quickly grew into a broader outcry&nbsp;against&nbsp;economic and&nbsp;social&nbsp;inequality in what had been considered among the most stable countries in Latin America.

Watch: Violence at an all-time high in Chile

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A total of 29 have died in violence related to the protests and nearly 3,700 were injured and&nbsp;more than 400 with eye injuries from the birdshot fired by&nbsp;police, according to the National Human Rights Institute.

The protesters on Saturday night got close to the La Moneda presidential palace. They sang and shouted slogans&nbsp;against&nbsp;conservative <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/chilean-president-pinera-sparks-fury-with-fake-news-claims-270752">President Sebastian Pinera</a>, whose approval rating has dropped to single digits since the protests began in November.

Hundreds of Chileans rallied Saturday night to protest what they call police repression during three months of the worst social unrest since democracy replaced the country's military dictatorship in 1990.

Hundreds of Chileans rallied Saturday night to protest what they call police repression during three months of the worst social unrest since democracy replaced the country's military dictatorship in 1990. Also read: Chile: Violent clashes erupt in new round of protests More than 1,000 people, many wearing black, marched in silence from Plaza Italia, ground zero of all the protests, along Alameda Avenue, the main thoroughfare in Chile's capital. Keeping quiet was their way of denouncing the security forces' use of tear gas, water cannon and birdshot, although the latter was barred in November because it was causing many injuries. "We are marching because of the human rights violations we have suffered. We will be here as long as is needed. This is the new Chile," said a social worker who gave her name only as Ana Maria. Watch: Chilean protests turn violent as protesters show no sign of backing down The unrest broke out over a metro fare rise but quickly grew into a broader outcry against economic and social inequality in what had been considered among the most stable countries in Latin America. Watch: Violence at an all-time high in Chile A total of 29 have died in violence related to the protests and nearly 3,700 were injured and more than 400 with eye injuries from the birdshot fired by police, according to the National Human Rights Institute. The protesters on Saturday night got close to the La Moneda presidential palace. They sang and shouted slogans against conservative President Sebastian Pinera, whose approval rating has dropped to single digits since the protests began in November.

Chileans march against police repression during unrest

In a fresh round of protests, clashes erupted between thousands of demonstrators and police in Chile's Santiago on Friday.&nbsp;

The rally took place in the Plaza Italia, which is the epicenter of the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/chilean-lawmakers-warn-democracy-at-stake-as-violence-spikes-264996">massive citizen protests </a>against President Sebastian Pinera's government.

Police entered the plaza in mid-afternoon and used tear gas, water cannons to disperse protesters. However, after two hours of tussle, demonstrators finally occupied the plaza, reports AFP.

"We are going to continue in the struggle until Pinera gives in to the people's demands," said Luis Rojas, 46.

The anti-government protests are continuing in Chile for more than two months. The protests initially began in Santiago over the rise in the metro fare but quickly escalated to serious social unrest since the end of the dictatorship of Augusto Pinochet nearly 30 years ago. The anger in Chile is over the inequality and especially aims&nbsp;at the elites who control much of the country's weatlh.&nbsp;

At least 26 people have died so far in the unrest, injuring&nbsp;and arresting&nbsp;thousands. Pinera has been blamed by the Opposition, human rights groups and activists for failing to act quickly and <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/serious-human-rights-violations-occurred-during-chile-protests-human-rights-watch-264755">rights abuses </a>by the security persnonel.&nbsp;On Monday, the Chilean President also signed a decree that called for a plebiscite on April 26 to decide the fate of current constitution which is in force swince Pinochet's rule.&nbsp;

Many people in Chile feel that replacing the current Constitution will end a dark and repressive chapter of country's history and solve the current crisis.&nbsp;

On Friday, a fire also broke out in the Cine Arte Alameda, a cultural centre that had operated for nearly three decades.&nbsp;

The witnesses said that the fire broke out after police fired tear gas shells. However, no officials have so far responded to such claims.&nbsp;

The fire was brought under control after an hour but the centre was completely destroyed, according to the deputy commander of the Santiago Fire Brigade.

The cinema owner said that no workers were injured in the fire.&nbsp;

(with inputs from&nbsp; AFP and Reuters)

 
&nbsp;

In a fresh round of protests, clashes erupted between thousands of demonstrators and police in Chile's Santiago on Friday. The rally took place in the Plaza Italia, which is the epicenter of the massive citizen protests against President Sebastian Pinera's government.

In a fresh round of protests, clashes erupted between thousands of demonstrators and police in Chile's Santiago on Friday. The rally took place in the Plaza Italia, which is the epicenter of the massive citizen protests against President Sebastian Pinera's government. Police entered the plaza in mid-afternoon and used tear gas, water cannons to disperse protesters. However, after two hours of tussle, demonstrators finally occupied the plaza, reports AFP. "We are going to continue in the struggle until Pinera gives in to the people's demands," said Luis Rojas, 46. The anti-government protests are continuing in Chile for more than two months. The protests initially began in Santiago over the rise in the metro fare but quickly escalated to serious social unrest since the end of the dictatorship of Augusto Pinochet nearly 30 years ago. The anger in Chile is over the inequality and especially aims at the elites who control much of the country's weatlh. At least 26 people have died so far in the unrest, injuring and arresting thousands. Pinera has been blamed by the Opposition, human rights groups and activists for failing to act quickly and rights abuses by the security persnonel. On Monday, the Chilean President also signed a decree that called for a plebiscite on April 26 to decide the fate of current constitution which is in force swince Pinochet's rule. Many people in Chile feel that replacing the current Constitution will end a dark and repressive chapter of country's history and solve the current crisis. On Friday, a fire also broke out in the Cine Arte Alameda, a cultural centre that had operated for nearly three decades. The witnesses said that the fire broke out after police fired tear gas shells. However, no officials have so far responded to such claims. The fire was brought under control after an hour but the centre was completely destroyed, according to the deputy commander of the Santiago Fire Brigade. The cinema owner said that no workers were injured in the fire. (with inputs from AFP and Reuters)

Chile: Violent clashes erupt in new round of protests

Chilean President <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/chile-president-pinera-condemns-police-violence-as-unrest-stretches-for-over-four-weeks-262781">Sebastian Pinera</a>, whose government has been <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/chile-violent-clashes-erupt-in-new-round-of-protests-270712">rocked by riots</a> over inequality, ignited a fresh wave of anger after claiming that "many" videos on social media of police abuse of demonstrators were "fake news," and unrest was being fomented by foreign governments.

Pinera told CNN Chile in an interview that there had been a "gigantic" disinformation campaign with videos circulating on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter that had been "filmed outside of Chile or misrepresented."

"There has doubtless been some participation by foreign governments and institutions," he said.

Pinera's comments were first screened by CNN on December&nbsp;15, but only gained widespread renown on Thursday when they became the subject of intense debate.

On Friday, after Santiago residents were called to a "K-Pop rally" in the city's central Plaza Italia, thousands of people gathered to bang pots and pans and chant anti-government slogans, with a massive deployment of police who moved in to disperse them with water cannons and tear gas.

Pinera has been blamed by the political opposition, human rights organizations and activist groups for failing to act more quickly on widespread claims of rights abuses by security forces policing the protests since they began over inequality on October&nbsp;18. With more than 26 people killed during the unrest and thousands more injured and arrested, Pinera's approval ratings have tumbled to as low as 10 per cent.

The claims of foreign interference are not new: the US&nbsp;State Department said it had seen indications of Russian “influence” on the unrest, “skewing it through the use and abuse of social media, trolling.”

However, Pinera's claims were met with fury from both his political opponents and members of his own governing coalition, Chile Vamos.

Manuel Jose Ossandon, a senator for centre-right party National Renewal, told La Tercera newspaper: "Enough. Chile is living a decisive moment. These declarations don't help, they divide."

Sergio Micco, the head of Chile's Human Rights Institute which has reviewed online content as part of an investigation into police handling of the protests, told a local radio station that while the group had seen misleading material, the "immense majority" was authentic.

And Jorge Abbott, Chile's attorney general, said: "At the moment, the images we have analyzed don't fall in that category (of coming from abroad)."

On Thursday night, the president tweeted that he had not expressed himself "clearly enough" and said human rights abuses "should always be condemned."

Last week, the government gave prosecutors a report it said had been sent to its intelligence agency by an undisclosed source that analyzed 5 million social media accounts tweeting at the peak of the unrest.

The report, the government confirmed, highlighted that one in five tweets about the unrest was generated outside of <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/wildfire-in-chilean-port-city-of-valparaiso-leaves-700-homeless-270514">Chile</a>, and among the most active accounts were fans of Korea's K-pop culture.

Friday's call for a "K-Pop rally" in Santiago included the ambitious promise of a closing concert by <a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/k-pop-fans-brave-seouls-christmas-chill-to-buy-bts-merch-270013">South Korean megaband BTS</a>.

During the evening, as protesters gathered, the nearby Alameda Art Center, whose lobby has been used as a triage center by volunteer medics during the protests, was set alight and almost totally destroyed, Santiago firefighters said.

There were widespread claims on social media that the fire was started by a police tear gas canister, though firefighters said they could not confirm the cause of the blaze and police did not respond to a Reuters request for comment.

Firefighters were also called to the San Sebastian University in the nearby Bellavista district, which was significantly vandalized and set alight during the protest.

Chilean President Sebastian Pinera, whose government has been rocked by riots over inequality, ignited a fresh wave of anger after claiming that "many" videos on social media of police abuse of demonstrators were "fake news," and unrest was being fomented by foreign governments.

Chilean President Sebastian Pinera, whose government has been rocked by riots over inequality, ignited a fresh wave of anger after claiming that "many" videos on social media of police abuse of demonstrators were "fake news," and unrest was being fomented by foreign governments. Pinera told CNN Chile in an interview that there had been a "gigantic" disinformation campaign with videos circulating on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter that had been "filmed outside of Chile or misrepresented." "There has doubtless been some participation by foreign governments and institutions," he said. Pinera's comments were first screened by CNN on December 15, but only gained widespread renown on Thursday when they became the subject of intense debate. On Friday, after Santiago residents were called to a "K-Pop rally" in the city's central Plaza Italia, thousands of people gathered to bang pots and pans and chant anti-government slogans, with a massive deployment of police who moved in to disperse them with water cannons and tear gas. Pinera has been blamed by the political opposition, human rights organizations and activist groups for failing to act more quickly on widespread claims of rights abuses by security forces policing the protests since they began over inequality on October 18. With more than 26 people killed during the unrest and thousands more injured and arrested, Pinera's approval ratings have tumbled to as low as 10 per cent. The claims of foreign interference are not new: the US State Department said it had seen indications of Russian “influence” on the unrest, “skewing it through the use and abuse of social media, trolling.” However, Pinera's claims were met with fury from both his political opponents and members of his own governing coalition, Chile Vamos. Manuel Jose Ossandon, a senator for centre-right party National Renewal, told La Tercera newspaper: "Enough. Chile is living a decisive moment. These declarations don't help, they divide." Sergio Micco, the head of Chile's Human Rights Institute which has reviewed online content as part of an investigation into police handling of the protests, told a local radio station that while the group had seen misleading material, the "immense majority" was authentic. And Jorge Abbott, Chile's attorney general, said: "At the moment, the images we have analyzed don't fall in that category (of coming from abroad)." On Thursday night, the president tweeted that he had not expressed himself "clearly enough" and said human rights abuses "should always be condemned." Last week, the government gave prosecutors a report it said had been sent to its intelligence agency by an undisclosed source that analyzed 5 million social media accounts tweeting at the peak of the unrest. The report, the government confirmed, highlighted that one in five tweets about the unrest was generated outside of Chile, and among the most active accounts were fans of Korea's K-pop culture. Friday's call for a "K-Pop rally" in Santiago included the ambitious promise of a closing concert by South Korean megaband BTS. During the evening, as protesters gathered, the nearby Alameda Art Center, whose lobby has been used as a triage center by volunteer medics during the protests, was set alight and almost totally destroyed, Santiago firefighters said. There were widespread claims on social media that the fire was started by a police tear gas canister, though firefighters said they could not confirm the cause of the blaze and police did not respond to a Reuters request for comment. Firefighters were also called to the San Sebastian University in the nearby Bellavista district, which was significantly vandalized and set alight during the protest.

Chilean President Pinera sparks fury with fake news claims

700 left homeless as wildfire rages in Chilean port city of Valparaiso

More than 245 homes have been destroyed and 700 people left destitute after a <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/firefighters-fire-in-chilean-city-of-valparaiso-destroys-about-50-homes-270111">forest fire</a> tore through a low-income area of the Chilean seaside city of Valparaiso on Christmas Eve.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/police-may-have-violated-protocols-chiles-president-pinera-263751">President Sebastian Pinera</a> said on Thursday during a tour of the affected zone that there was evidence the fire had been started deliberately.

"I deeply regret that what should have been a good night, a night of peace, should have been so profoundly altered by this tragedy," he said.

Valparaiso, known for its colorful wood-frame houses, is popular among tourists in the South American country.

The fire broke out in a forested area on the outskirts of the city and spread toward the coast, hitting the Rocuant and San Roque hills, a jumble of settlements that overlook the city.

Also Watch:&nbsp;Chile Christmas fire-&nbsp;Wildfire destroyed over 150 homes

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Inhabitants fled their homes just moments before sitting down to their Christmas Eve dinner, some losing all their belongings and even pets.

Marta Pinto, 78, said her granddaughter spotted the fire coming down the hill and raised the alarm.

"They took me to the house of a niece because I suffer from lung disease," she told Reuters. "My husband arrived and said: 'Love, we have lost everything.' I´ve cried all my tears already. My heart is so sore for everything that has happened to us, to our neighbors, in this tremendous tragedy."

Juan Silva Suazo, 68, said he had lost his home and all of the possessions he spent 45 years accumulating.

"So many years of sacrifice, it has cost me so much to make my house and now that I´m retired, I have no way of making it back," he said. "I have polio, I cannot stand for a long time, or sit for a long time either as I have osteoporosis in my hips, knees and feet. We are sleeping in a bathroom right now, it´s terrible."

Chile´s forestry commission said the fire was only fully brought under control at midday on Thursday with the help of nine firefighting teams, five helicopters and two water trucks. A total of 132 hectares of vegetation were destroyed, it added.

Agriculture Minister Antonio Walker said the high temperatures at the height of the Southern Hemisphere summer, which runs from December to March, and dry conditions caused by a historic drought currently blighting <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/chilean-lawmakers-warn-democracy-at-stake-as-violence-spikes-264996">Chile</a> had provided fertile ground for the fire.

Valparaiso's mayor Jorge Sharp, said on Wednesday he had filed a criminal complaint with the courts against those who started the fire, once they are identified.

"That this fire was intentionally started is, from various indications, clear and we want to know who is responsible and why they would want to cause so much damage to Valparaiso," he said.

More than 245 homes have been destroyed and 700 people left destitute after a forest fire tore through a low-income area of the Chilean seaside city of Valparaiso on Christmas Eve.

More than 245 homes have been destroyed and 700 people left destitute after a forest fire tore through a low-income area of the Chilean seaside city of Valparaiso on Christmas Eve. President Sebastian Pinera said on Thursday during a tour of the affected zone that there was evidence the fire had been started deliberately. "I deeply regret that what should have been a good night, a night of peace, should have been so profoundly altered by this tragedy," he said. Valparaiso, known for its colorful wood-frame houses, is popular among tourists in the South American country. The fire broke out in a forested area on the outskirts of the city and spread toward the coast, hitting the Rocuant and San Roque hills, a jumble of settlements that overlook the city. Also Watch: Chile Christmas fire- Wildfire destroyed over 150 homes × Inhabitants fled their homes just moments before sitting down to their Christmas Eve dinner, some losing all their belongings and even pets. Marta Pinto, 78, said her granddaughter spotted the fire coming down the hill and raised the alarm. "They took me to the house of a niece because I suffer from lung disease," she told Reuters. "My husband arrived and said: 'Love, we have lost everything.' I´ve cried all my tears already. My heart is so sore for everything that has happened to us, to our neighbors, in this tremendous tragedy." Juan Silva Suazo, 68, said he had lost his home and all of the possessions he spent 45 years accumulating. "So many years of sacrifice, it has cost me so much to make my house and now that I´m retired, I have no way of making it back," he said. "I have polio, I cannot stand for a long time, or sit for a long time either as I have osteoporosis in my hips, knees and feet. We are sleeping in a bathroom right now, it´s terrible." Chile´s forestry commission said the fire was only fully brought under control at midday on Thursday with the help of nine firefighting teams, five helicopters and two water trucks. A total of 132 hectares of vegetation were destroyed, it added. Agriculture Minister Antonio Walker said the high temperatures at the height of the Southern Hemisphere summer, which runs from December to March, and dry conditions caused by a historic drought currently blighting Chile had provided fertile ground for the fire. Valparaiso's mayor Jorge Sharp, said on Wednesday he had filed a criminal complaint with the courts against those who started the fire, once they are identified. "That this fire was intentionally started is, from various indications, clear and we want to know who is responsible and why they would want to cause so much damage to Valparaiso," he said.

Wildfire in Chilean port city of Valparaiso leaves 700 homeless

Chilean lawmakers agreed late on Wednesday to fast-track reforms to beef up security, warning that a resurgence in violence and vandalism was threatening to derail the country's 30-year-old democracy.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/as-chiles-violent-unrest-enters-into-fifth-week-death-toll-rises-to-23-263990">Five weeks of unrest</a> over inequality and shabby social services have left at least 26 dead and more than 13,500 injured, prosecutors said. Riots have hobbled the capital's public transport system, once the envy of Latin America, and caused billions in losses for private business.

The deal, struck between ruling party and opposition lawmakers, acknowledged the government had done too little, too late to stem the crisis. "The country is confronting a crisis of violence and vandalism that threatens our democracy," begins the two-page document.

A fresh round of attacks and rioting earlier this week sent Chile's peso plummeting to a new low against the dollar at the market close on Wednesday. Forecasts for economic growth and unemployment are increasingly grim.

President <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/police-may-have-violated-protocols-chiles-president-pinera-263751">Sebastian Pinera </a>urged Congress earlier on Wednesday to push forward with bills he introduced weeks ago to ramp up intelligence gathering and toughen penalties against still-rampant looting and destruction.

"Violence is causing harm that may become irreparable to the body and soul of our society," Pinera said from the La Moneda presidential palace.

Lawmakers agreed in the Wednesday-night deal to push forward with "resolve" the security reforms, urging Pinera to use the "constitutional tools" at his disposal to quell the violence, while protecting human rights.

Similar riots have erupted in countries across Latin America, including <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/colombia-holds-another-national-strike-as-week-of-protests-rolls-on-264843">Colombia</a>, Ecuador and Bolivia in recent months as unrest has spiraled into violence and demands for political, social and economic reforms.

Chile´s Interior Ministry reported that police arrested 915 people Tuesday, while the number of "serious incidents" overnight had nearly doubled from the previous day.

Vandals looted a major hotel in the seaside tourist city of La Serena, turning over tables, ripping paintings off walls and breaking windows. Protesters also targeted upscale areas of Santiago, marching through a shopping mall in the ritzy mountainside suburb of La Dehesa earlier in the week and another in Las Condes on Wednesday.

Officials had shut key commuter metro stations by mid-afternoon Wednesday throughout the capital's business area, known as Sanhattan for its gleaming skyscrapers and designer stores, as protests grew.

Pinera's efforts to quell the violence have so far come up short, despite promises to beef up pensions, the minimum wage and healthcare benefits. The country's normally fractious political parties have agreed to work together on a new constitution, though differences remain.

Protests appear driven by mistrust that politicians will keep their promises to bring significant change, and enduring fury over police handling of demonstrators.

Chilean lawmakers agreed late on Wednesday to fast-track reforms to beef up security, warning that a resurgence in violence and vandalism was threatening to derail the country's 30-year-old democracy.

Chilean lawmakers agreed late on Wednesday to fast-track reforms to beef up security, warning that a resurgence in violence and vandalism was threatening to derail the country's 30-year-old democracy. Five weeks of unrest over inequality and shabby social services have left at least 26 dead and more than 13,500 injured, prosecutors said. Riots have hobbled the capital's public transport system, once the envy of Latin America, and caused billions in losses for private business. The deal, struck between ruling party and opposition lawmakers, acknowledged the government had done too little, too late to stem the crisis. "The country is confronting a crisis of violence and vandalism that threatens our democracy," begins the two-page document. A fresh round of attacks and rioting earlier this week sent Chile's peso plummeting to a new low against the dollar at the market close on Wednesday. Forecasts for economic growth and unemployment are increasingly grim. President Sebastian Pinera urged Congress earlier on Wednesday to push forward with bills he introduced weeks ago to ramp up intelligence gathering and toughen penalties against still-rampant looting and destruction. "Violence is causing harm that may become irreparable to the body and soul of our society," Pinera said from the La Moneda presidential palace. Lawmakers agreed in the Wednesday-night deal to push forward with "resolve" the security reforms, urging Pinera to use the "constitutional tools" at his disposal to quell the violence, while protecting human rights. Similar riots have erupted in countries across Latin America, including Colombia, Ecuador and Bolivia in recent months as unrest has spiraled into violence and demands for political, social and economic reforms. Chile´s Interior Ministry reported that police arrested 915 people Tuesday, while the number of "serious incidents" overnight had nearly doubled from the previous day. Vandals looted a major hotel in the seaside tourist city of La Serena, turning over tables, ripping paintings off walls and breaking windows. Protesters also targeted upscale areas of Santiago, marching through a shopping mall in the ritzy mountainside suburb of La Dehesa earlier in the week and another in Las Condes on Wednesday. Officials had shut key commuter metro stations by mid-afternoon Wednesday throughout the capital's business area, known as Sanhattan for its gleaming skyscrapers and designer stores, as protests grew. Pinera's efforts to quell the violence have so far come up short, despite promises to beef up pensions, the minimum wage and healthcare benefits. The country's normally fractious political parties have agreed to work together on a new constitution, though differences remain. Protests appear driven by mistrust that politicians will keep their promises to bring significant change, and enduring fury over police handling of demonstrators.

Chilean lawmakers warn democracy at stake as violence spikes

A <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/as-chiles-violent-unrest-enters-into-fifth-week-death-toll-rises-to-23-263990">month of intense protests</a> against inequality and police repression in Santiago have transformed the Chilean capital's streetscape into a caterwaul of graffiti whose messages reflect the deep discontent in this once genteel Latin American city.

The warm, dry air typical of springtime now bears the lingering sting of teargas, and shops and office blocks have become fortresses, adorned with metal curtains to protect them from demonstrators' stones or Molotov cocktails.

Commuters move past blackened barricades smoldering across many streets and take their chances at busy road junctions where traffic lights have been vandalized.

The subway network, one of Latin America's most modern, continues to run at half-strength, with more than 20 stations still closed after arson attacks.

Grey and sandstone walls have been blanketed with colorful murals.

"The street is ours," proclaims one message on a closed gate. Walls bear war cries, jokes, political demands, rejections of injustice and inequality and claims against "murderous" police.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/police-may-have-violated-protocols-chiles-president-pinera-263751">President Sebastian Pinera</a> is addressed frequently and bluntly, with one scrawl reading: "Resign. Nobody wants you."

The messages also reflect a horrifying, and largely unique, characteristic of the Chilean protests: the injuries to more than 200 people's eyes by police rubber bullets or tear gas cannisters.

"Now it is a privilege to have both eyes," spits one. A poster shows Chile's long thin nation cascading as a stream of blood from an injured eye.

Police insist they have followed protocol in the use of force and that all allegations of wrongdoing that have been reported will be thoroughly investigated.

Also watch: Chilean security forces 'intentionally' attacked protesters to 'punish' them - Amnesty

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The police chief last week suspended the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/chile-police-suspend-use-of-birdshot-against-protesters-after-outcry-over-eye-injuries-263242">use of rubber bullets</a> and ordered further tests after a university study suggested they were only 20 per cent&nbsp;rubber and contained lead.

In Plaza Italia, rechristened Plaza de la Dignidad for having been the focal point for mass mobilizations, parts of the pavement have been ripped up and a statue of a military hero mounted on horseback has been swathed in flags, scarves and paint.

There, some find the city's changed face heartbreaking while others see it as emblematic of broader changes that must come.

"I far prefer this painted and awakened Chile to a passive and quiet oasis," said Miguel Delso, a 32-year-old architect, who was demonstrating with a group of colleagues and architecture students.

Antonio Rivas, a 25-year-old Venezuelan engineer who migrated to Santiago, saw things differently: "I don't understand why, to ask for fair and just treatment, you have to go out and destroy everything," he said as he took pictures on his cell phone of paint-streaked walls.

On the four-lane Alameda thoroughfare that marchers stream down towards Plaza Italia each afternoon, traffic is replaced by enterprising street vendors offering demonstrators everything they might need to make their point.

T-shirts with diverse slogans reflect the long list of causes, while flags and scarves share the pavement with gas masks, eye goggles, slingshots and nets of marbles and spray bottles of water and bicarbonate of soda, to neutralize the effect of teargas.

Many young protesters readily compare Chile's protest action with similar upheavals around the world.

In Lastarria, the most popular tourist area of downtown Santiago, a mural reinterpreting Pablo Picasso's celebrated Guernica features Pinera as a snorting bull, police special forces as horses, clouds of teargas, flames from burning metro stations and rubber bullets in the air.

A little further, a poster bears a picture of massive crowds, with words of promise, or of warning: "Never again will they have the comfort of our silence."

A month of intense protests against inequality and police repression in Santiago have transformed the Chilean capital's streetscape into a caterwaul of graffiti whose messages reflect the deep discontent in this once genteel Latin American city.

A month of intense protests against inequality and police repression in Santiago have transformed the Chilean capital's streetscape into a caterwaul of graffiti whose messages reflect the deep discontent in this once genteel Latin American city. The warm, dry air typical of springtime now bears the lingering sting of teargas, and shops and office blocks have become fortresses, adorned with metal curtains to protect them from demonstrators' stones or Molotov cocktails. Commuters move past blackened barricades smoldering across many streets and take their chances at busy road junctions where traffic lights have been vandalized. The subway network, one of Latin America's most modern, continues to run at half-strength, with more than 20 stations still closed after arson attacks. Grey and sandstone walls have been blanketed with colorful murals. "The street is ours," proclaims one message on a closed gate. Walls bear war cries, jokes, political demands, rejections of injustice and inequality and claims against "murderous" police. President Sebastian Pinera is addressed frequently and bluntly, with one scrawl reading: "Resign. Nobody wants you." The messages also reflect a horrifying, and largely unique, characteristic of the Chilean protests: the injuries to more than 200 people's eyes by police rubber bullets or tear gas cannisters. "Now it is a privilege to have both eyes," spits one. A poster shows Chile's long thin nation cascading as a stream of blood from an injured eye. Police insist they have followed protocol in the use of force and that all allegations of wrongdoing that have been reported will be thoroughly investigated. Also watch: Chilean security forces 'intentionally' attacked protesters to 'punish' them - Amnesty × The police chief last week suspended the use of rubber bullets and ordered further tests after a university study suggested they were only 20 per cent rubber and contained lead. In Plaza Italia, rechristened Plaza de la Dignidad for having been the focal point for mass mobilizations, parts of the pavement have been ripped up and a statue of a military hero mounted on horseback has been swathed in flags, scarves and paint. There, some find the city's changed face heartbreaking while others see it as emblematic of broader changes that must come. "I far prefer this painted and awakened Chile to a passive and quiet oasis," said Miguel Delso, a 32-year-old architect, who was demonstrating with a group of colleagues and architecture students. Antonio Rivas, a 25-year-old Venezuelan engineer who migrated to Santiago, saw things differently: "I don't understand why, to ask for fair and just treatment, you have to go out and destroy everything," he said as he took pictures on his cell phone of paint-streaked walls. On the four-lane Alameda thoroughfare that marchers stream down towards Plaza Italia each afternoon, traffic is replaced by enterprising street vendors offering demonstrators everything they might need to make their point. T-shirts with diverse slogans reflect the long list of causes, while flags and scarves share the pavement with gas masks, eye goggles, slingshots and nets of marbles and spray bottles of water and bicarbonate of soda, to neutralize the effect of teargas. Many young protesters readily compare Chile's protest action with similar upheavals around the world. In Lastarria, the most popular tourist area of downtown Santiago, a mural reinterpreting Pablo Picasso's celebrated Guernica features Pinera as a snorting bull, police special forces as horses, clouds of teargas, flames from burning metro stations and rubber bullets in the air. A little further, a poster bears a picture of massive crowds, with words of promise, or of warning: "Never again will they have the comfort of our silence."

'Chile awakened': Graffiti across shattered city reflects protest intensity

Chile's finance minister warned on Tuesday of the "grave consequences" for the nation's economy of three weeks of often <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/no-end-in-sight-to-chile-unrest-as-massive-strike-more-protests-planned-261673">violent unrest </a>after the peso slid 4 per cent&nbsp;to hit a historic low against the dollar.

Ignacio Briones said the weakening of the peso was a "sign of worry" that he and his colleagues were watching very carefully.

He called on Chileans to help restore "normality" so that businesses could return to the proper functioning and people could return to work after weeks of strikes, marches and damage to property and public transport that he has estimated cost the economy $3 billion.

"The peaceful marches have made their point and that message is reflected in the measures that the government and the opposition have taken," he told journalists in Santiago. "All our actions have consequences and they are having grave consequences that are now being seen in the economy and particularly on entrepreneurs and in the most vulnerable sectors."

President Sebastian Pinera, speaking at an evening news conference in Santiago, condemned new clashes between protesters and police on Tuesday night in Santiago and other parts of the country and vowed that those responsible would be prosecuted under the strict state security law that allows for tougher penalties.

"The grave situation of violence and delinquency severely threatens our democracy, our state of law and above all, the rights of all Chileans and especially of the most vulnerable," he said.

Pinera appealed to citizens to sign up to three "national accords" to restore security, promote a more equal society and develop a <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/chile-to-amend-constitution-a-key-demand-of-protesters-261376">new constitution to replace</a> one crafted during the 1973-1990 Augusto Pinochet dictatorship.

The country's currency plunged to more than 800 pesos per dollar, down more than 10 per cent&nbsp;since mid-October, by midday on Tuesday as state workers and some unionized miners in Chile announced a nationwide strike, saying they were not yet satisfied following the government's decision to rewrite the constitution.

Demonstrations across the country have sometimes devolved into arson, riots and looting, leaving at least 23 people dead, 2,000 civilians hospitalized and more than 1,000 complaints of rights abuses, according to human rights groups and prosecutors.

Chile's central bank president, Mario Marcel, urged calm, saying on Monday that despite the peso's precipitous fall, Chile's fiscal situation remained "solid."

Thousands of people including members of unions marched in large numbers through Chilean cities again on Tuesday.

Truck drivers and other protesters set up barricades on at least two major highways connecting the capital, Santiago, with outlying cities and ports, prompting huge backups on key regional arteries.

The road blockages prompted the Valparaiso-based Congress to shut down for the day.

Most of Chile's copper mining companies said they maintained operations on Tuesday, albeit with some delays and sporadic unrest, unions and management teams told Reuters.

To date, copper production in the world's largest producer of the red metal has not been significantly hurt by weeks of protests pushing demands for improvements in pensions, health and education.

Ennio Vivaldi, the rector of the University of Chile, said the school would soon file a legal complaint after a police officer on Monday evening allegedly shot a drama student in the face during a protest. He accused the police of using "tremendous violence" against peaceful protests while failing to tackle vandalism and looting.

"Never again should there be an attack on a young man in the face with bullets from two metres away," he said. "This must stop."

In the northern city of Antofagasta, the Appeal Court issued an order requested by a civilian against the police and Interior Ministry that rubber bullets could not be used against peaceful protesters and tear gas should be "limited," a judicial authority said in a statement.

The government's spokesman, Karla Rubilar, responded that police could only use firearms where there was a threat to life.

"We could not agree more. Of course, they cannot use rubber bullets on peaceful protests," she said.

Chile's finance minister warned on Tuesday of the "grave consequences" for the nation's economy of three weeks of often violent unrest after the peso slid 4 per cent to hit a historic low against the dollar.

Chile's finance minister warned on Tuesday of the "grave consequences" for the nation's economy of three weeks of often violent unrest after the peso slid 4 per cent to hit a historic low against the dollar. Ignacio Briones said the weakening of the peso was a "sign of worry" that he and his colleagues were watching very carefully. He called on Chileans to help restore "normality" so that businesses could return to the proper functioning and people could return to work after weeks of strikes, marches and damage to property and public transport that he has estimated cost the economy $3 billion. "The peaceful marches have made their point and that message is reflected in the measures that the government and the opposition have taken," he told journalists in Santiago. "All our actions have consequences and they are having grave consequences that are now being seen in the economy and particularly on entrepreneurs and in the most vulnerable sectors." President Sebastian Pinera, speaking at an evening news conference in Santiago, condemned new clashes between protesters and police on Tuesday night in Santiago and other parts of the country and vowed that those responsible would be prosecuted under the strict state security law that allows for tougher penalties. "The grave situation of violence and delinquency severely threatens our democracy, our state of law and above all, the rights of all Chileans and especially of the most vulnerable," he said. Pinera appealed to citizens to sign up to three "national accords" to restore security, promote a more equal society and develop a new constitution to replace one crafted during the 1973-1990 Augusto Pinochet dictatorship. The country's currency plunged to more than 800 pesos per dollar, down more than 10 per cent since mid-October, by midday on Tuesday as state workers and some unionized miners in Chile announced a nationwide strike, saying they were not yet satisfied following the government's decision to rewrite the constitution. Demonstrations across the country have sometimes devolved into arson, riots and looting, leaving at least 23 people dead, 2,000 civilians hospitalized and more than 1,000 complaints of rights abuses, according to human rights groups and prosecutors. Chile's central bank president, Mario Marcel, urged calm, saying on Monday that despite the peso's precipitous fall, Chile's fiscal situation remained "solid." Thousands of people including members of unions marched in large numbers through Chilean cities again on Tuesday. Truck drivers and other protesters set up barricades on at least two major highways connecting the capital, Santiago, with outlying cities and ports, prompting huge backups on key regional arteries. The road blockages prompted the Valparaiso-based Congress to shut down for the day. Most of Chile's copper mining companies said they maintained operations on Tuesday, albeit with some delays and sporadic unrest, unions and management teams told Reuters. To date, copper production in the world's largest producer of the red metal has not been significantly hurt by weeks of protests pushing demands for improvements in pensions, health and education. Ennio Vivaldi, the rector of the University of Chile, said the school would soon file a legal complaint after a police officer on Monday evening allegedly shot a drama student in the face during a protest. He accused the police of using "tremendous violence" against peaceful protests while failing to tackle vandalism and looting. "Never again should there be an attack on a young man in the face with bullets from two metres away," he said. "This must stop." In the northern city of Antofagasta, the Appeal Court issued an order requested by a civilian against the police and Interior Ministry that rubber bullets could not be used against peaceful protesters and tear gas should be "limited," a judicial authority said in a statement. The government's spokesman, Karla Rubilar, responded that police could only use firearms where there was a threat to life. "We could not agree more. Of course, they cannot use rubber bullets on peaceful protests," she said.

Chile's finance minister calls for return to 'normality' as peso slides

Chile has announced it will move to draft a new constitution and replace one dating back to the Augusto Pinochet dictatorship, a <a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/constitutional-conundrum-why-chileans-demand-to-change-their-constitution-260474">key demand of protesters </a>who have rocked the country for three weeks.

The new constitution will be drafted by a body called a constituent assembly and then put to a referendum for ratification, Interior Minister Gonzalo Blumel said Sunday.

Blumel made the announcement after meeting a coalition of center-right and right-wing parties, which until now had been the most reluctant to change the constitution inherited from the era of the US-backed general Pinochet, from 1973 to 1990.

The government was in the process of preparing "a draft amendment of the constitution", President Sebastian Pinera said in an interview published Saturday by the daily El Mercurio.

Among the proposed changes are "a better definition of human rights" and their means of enforcement, plus clarification on "the obligations of the state" and "better mechanisms of participation" for citizens, added the president.

The current constitution, in force since 1980, has already undergone more than 200 changes in more than 40 articles, Pinera said.

But it does not establish the state's responsibility to provide education and healthcare,&nbsp;two demands made by millions of Chileans who have taken to the streets.

A general public sector strike has been called on Monday, in the midst of the biggest crisis since Chile's return to democracy in 1990, which has left 20 dead,&nbsp;five at the hands of state forces,&nbsp;and more than 1,000 injured.

The <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/protesters-in-chile-set-fire-to-university-loot-church-260963">unrest</a> that began on October 18 with protests against a rise in rush-hour metro fares has mushroomed into a broader outcry against the status quo, with burning, looting and daily clashes between demonstrators and police.

Protesters cite low wages, high costs for education and healthcare and a yawning gap between rich and poor in a country dominated politically and economically by a few old, elite families.

After weeks of sometimes violent and deadly demonstrations, most polls show the protest movement is supported by 75 percent of Chileans.

A similar number,&nbsp;87 percent, according to a survey by pollster Cadem published early this month,&nbsp;also say they favour the protesters' demand for constitutional reforms.

A few days after Pinera became president in March 2018, his government announced it would not allow the consideration of a bill to amend the constitution that the previous president, the socialist Michelle Bachelet (2014-2018), had submitted to congress.

Chile has announced it will move to draft a new constitution and replace one dating back to the Augusto Pinochet dictatorship, a key demand of protesters who have rocked the country for three weeks.

Chile has announced it will move to draft a new constitution and replace one dating back to the Augusto Pinochet dictatorship, a key demand of protesters who have rocked the country for three weeks. The new constitution will be drafted by a body called a constituent assembly and then put to a referendum for ratification, Interior Minister Gonzalo Blumel said Sunday. Blumel made the announcement after meeting a coalition of center-right and right-wing parties, which until now had been the most reluctant to change the constitution inherited from the era of the US-backed general Pinochet, from 1973 to 1990. The government was in the process of preparing "a draft amendment of the constitution", President Sebastian Pinera said in an interview published Saturday by the daily El Mercurio. Among the proposed changes are "a better definition of human rights" and their means of enforcement, plus clarification on "the obligations of the state" and "better mechanisms of participation" for citizens, added the president. The current constitution, in force since 1980, has already undergone more than 200 changes in more than 40 articles, Pinera said. But it does not establish the state's responsibility to provide education and healthcare, two demands made by millions of Chileans who have taken to the streets. A general public sector strike has been called on Monday, in the midst of the biggest crisis since Chile's return to democracy in 1990, which has left 20 dead, five at the hands of state forces, and more than 1,000 injured. The unrest that began on October 18 with protests against a rise in rush-hour metro fares has mushroomed into a broader outcry against the status quo, with burning, looting and daily clashes between demonstrators and police. Protesters cite low wages, high costs for education and healthcare and a yawning gap between rich and poor in a country dominated politically and economically by a few old, elite families. After weeks of sometimes violent and deadly demonstrations, most polls show the protest movement is supported by 75 percent of Chileans. A similar number, 87 percent, according to a survey by pollster Cadem published early this month, also say they favour the protesters' demand for constitutional reforms. A few days after Pinera became president in March 2018, his government announced it would not allow the consideration of a bill to amend the constitution that the previous president, the socialist Michelle Bachelet (2014-2018), had submitted to congress.

Chile to amend constitution, a key demand of protesters

Protesters&nbsp;and&nbsp;police&nbsp;faced off in the streets of&nbsp;Santiago&nbsp;on Wednesday (November 6), with officers using&nbsp;tear&nbsp;gas&nbsp;and a&nbsp;water&nbsp;cannon&nbsp;to disperse the crowd.

The protests started over a hike in public transport fares but have broadened to include poor pensions, the high costs of utilities, medication and road tolls as well as patchy public services such as healthcare and education.

At least 18 people have died and thousands been injured after two weeks of <a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/chilean-protests-turn-violent-as-protesters-show-no-sign-of-backing-down-260331">rioting, protests</a> and looting.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/chile-leader-pinera-says-will-not-resign-over-protests-260205">President Sebastian Pinera</a> has rejected the notion of resigning and believes he will reach the end of his term in just over two years despite intense anti-government sentiment roiling the country.

Chile's protests are part of a wave of unrest this year around South America, including protests against Bolivia's President Evo Morales over a disputed election and Ecuador's Lenin Moreno over economic liberalization reforms.

Protesters and police faced off in the streets of Santiago on Wednesday (November 6), with officers using tear gas and a water cannon to disperse the crowd. The protests started over a hike in public transport fares but have broadened to include poor pensions, the high costs of utilities, medication and road tolls as well as patchy public services such as healthcare and education.

Protesters and police faced off in the streets of Santiago on Wednesday (November 6), with officers using tear gas and a water cannon to disperse the crowd. The protests started over a hike in public transport fares but have broadened to include poor pensions, the high costs of utilities, medication and road tolls as well as patchy public services such as healthcare and education. At least 18 people have died and thousands been injured after two weeks of rioting, protests and looting. President Sebastian Pinera has rejected the notion of resigning and believes he will reach the end of his term in just over two years despite intense anti-government sentiment roiling the country. Chile's protests are part of a wave of unrest this year around South America, including protests against Bolivia's President Evo Morales over a disputed election and Ecuador's Lenin Moreno over economic liberalization reforms.

Tear gas, water cannon as Chile protesters defy police in Santiago

Constitutional conundrum: Why Chileans are demanding to change their constitution?

Reuters photographers covering protests in the central Santiago rallying point of Plaza Italia were getting ready to capture images on Monday as the police set about clearing the square for the evening.

Jorge Silva, a Reuters chief photographer in South East Asia, has been in Chile covering the protests that started two weeks ago over public transport fare hikes and broadened into often violent demonstrations over inequality in one of Latin America's richest nations.

He was standing close to the Baquedano metro station that has remained shuttered amid arson attacks and watched as police tried to drive protesters away from a broad avenue leading out of the square.

As the<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/tear-gas-water-cannon-as-chile-protesters-defy-police-in-santiago-260431"> police used tear gas </a>canisters and water cannon against the protesters, he saw a series of Molotov cocktails thrown in the direction of the police.

Two police officers were engulfed in flames. They were helped by colleagues who used fire extinguishers and their hands to put out the fires.

The two women, María José Hernández Torres, 25, and Abigail Catalina Aburto Cardenas, 20, both members of the Santiago police special forces, are in serious condition in hospital, police said.

Silva saw a flare out of the corner of his eye and swung his camera to capture an image just as the flames surged above the heads of the police officers.

"I realized a police officer had been set on fire by a Molotov and her team were trying to extinguish the fire," he said.

Three Reuters photographers captured images showing one of the officers, her helmet pulled off, grimacing in pain as her colleagues sprayed her with a fire extinguisher to try to put out the flames licking around her face.

Ivan Alvarado, a Reuters photographer based in Chile who documented the scene from a nearby rooftop, said the flames spread quickly.

"The officers were trying to put them out with their hands," he said.

Chile's Interior Minister Gonzalo Blumel visited the women in hospital on Monday evening and denounced the attack as "pure violence... nothing to do with the legitimate demands of citizens."

"It was violent, cowardly aggression against two police officers who were working to protect the safety of our compatriots," he said.

Henry Romero, a Reuters photographer usually based in Mexico who was also on the scene in Santiago, said the incident sparked an immediate response from police.

"From that moment things intensified, the police began to use a lot of gas and rubber bullets, the noise of the repeated fire was loud," he said.

A police source, who asked not to be named, said officers in the square followed standard operating procedure, deploying first water cannons, then tear gas. He said rubber bullets were only used in instances of "imminent danger" to police officers. "Control of public order is very complex," he said.

Reuters was unable to reach the families of the two police officers. The hospital where they are being treated did not respond to request for comment.

The two women are among 800 police officers injured in the demonstrations over the last two weeks, along with 1,650 protesters who have been hospitalized, according to human rights groups.

Reuters photographers covering protests in the central Santiago rallying point of Plaza Italia were getting ready to capture images on Monday as the police set about clearing the square for the evening.

Reuters photographers covering protests in the central Santiago rallying point of Plaza Italia were getting ready to capture images on Monday as the police set about clearing the square for the evening. Jorge Silva, a Reuters chief photographer in South East Asia, has been in Chile covering the protests that started two weeks ago over public transport fare hikes and broadened into often violent demonstrations over inequality in one of Latin America's richest nations. He was standing close to the Baquedano metro station that has remained shuttered amid arson attacks and watched as police tried to drive protesters away from a broad avenue leading out of the square. As the police used tear gas canisters and water cannon against the protesters, he saw a series of Molotov cocktails thrown in the direction of the police. Two police officers were engulfed in flames. They were helped by colleagues who used fire extinguishers and their hands to put out the fires. The two women, María José Hernández Torres, 25, and Abigail Catalina Aburto Cardenas, 20, both members of the Santiago police special forces, are in serious condition in hospital, police said. Silva saw a flare out of the corner of his eye and swung his camera to capture an image just as the flames surged above the heads of the police officers. "I realized a police officer had been set on fire by a Molotov and her team were trying to extinguish the fire," he said. Three Reuters photographers captured images showing one of the officers, her helmet pulled off, grimacing in pain as her colleagues sprayed her with a fire extinguisher to try to put out the flames licking around her face. Ivan Alvarado, a Reuters photographer based in Chile who documented the scene from a nearby rooftop, said the flames spread quickly. "The officers were trying to put them out with their hands," he said. Chile's Interior Minister Gonzalo Blumel visited the women in hospital on Monday evening and denounced the attack as "pure violence... nothing to do with the legitimate demands of citizens." "It was violent, cowardly aggression against two police officers who were working to protect the safety of our compatriots," he said. Henry Romero, a Reuters photographer usually based in Mexico who was also on the scene in Santiago, said the incident sparked an immediate response from police. "From that moment things intensified, the police began to use a lot of gas and rubber bullets, the noise of the repeated fire was loud," he said. A police source, who asked not to be named, said officers in the square followed standard operating procedure, deploying first water cannons, then tear gas. He said rubber bullets were only used in instances of "imminent danger" to police officers. "Control of public order is very complex," he said. Reuters was unable to reach the families of the two police officers. The hospital where they are being treated did not respond to request for comment. The two women are among 800 police officers injured in the demonstrations over the last two weeks, along with 1,650 protesters who have been hospitalized, according to human rights groups.

Chilean police officers set on fire by Molotov cocktails

Chilean President Sebastian&nbsp;Pinera&nbsp;said Tuesday he will not&nbsp;resign&nbsp;in the face of <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/mega-rally-marks-chile-protests-third-week-as-president-struggles-259970">deadly&nbsp;protests</a>&nbsp;over&nbsp;inequality and poor social conditions that have entered their third week.

Asked by the BBC in an interview whether he will step down, the billionaire conservative&nbsp;leader&nbsp;said: "No."

"These problems have been accumulating for the past 30 years,"&nbsp;Pinera&nbsp;said. "I am responsible (for) part of it and I assume my responsiblity, but I'm not the only one."

Fresh clashes broke out Tuesday, adding to the violence gripping one of Latin America's most prosperous countries. It has forced the government to cancel two major international economic and climate summits and open talks with the leftist opposition.

Thousands of protesters took the streets in the capital, and in the southern cities of Concepcion and Vina del Mar, west of Santiago.

Police firing birdshot injured two students among a group trying to overrun a public high school in Santiago, police said. The students were treated at a hospital and released.

Citing public order fears, South American football chiefs announced they were switching the venue for a major continental soccer final from Santiago.

This month's showpiece Copa Libertadores final will now be held in the Peruvian capital Lima, soccer authority CONMEBOL said after meeting in Paraguay.

"The choice is based on the offer of the government of Peru, and on the security guarantees it has given," it said in a statement.

Prosecutors say 20 people have died in unrest since the&nbsp;protests&nbsp;began here on October 20.

A UN human rights mission is investigating allegations of police brutality.

Chile's football federation earlier Tuesday called off a November 15 international friendly in Santiago with Bolivia.

In his interview,&nbsp;Pinera&nbsp;defended his decision to declare a state of emergency but promised to look into allegations of police violence and abuse.

The interview came as the president announced a package of measures for small and medium-sized businesses hit by the unrest.

Some 6,800 companies affected by rioting, looting and fires will benefit from financial aid and tax deductions.

Demonstrators and riot police clashed again in the capital Santiago on Tuesday, when around 2,000 people gathered in the capital.

The&nbsp;protests&nbsp;and violence were on a smaller scale to Monday's huge rally marking the beginning of a third week of&nbsp;protests&nbsp;in Santiago.

On Monday, tens of thousands of people gathered in the Plaza de Italia, the epicenter of the unrest&nbsp;over&nbsp;economic inequality and a raft of other social 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 cannon and tear gas. One officer was hit in the face with a Molotov cocktail.

Looting and vandalism were reported in the cities of Vina del Mar, Valparaiso and Concepcion.

Protesters organized rallies on Monday under the slogan "This is not&nbsp;over."

Some citizens returned to work despite vandalism that has damaged the underground train network.

"There are many alleged complaints about excessive use of force and if that took place I can guarantee you that it will be investigated,"&nbsp;Pinera&nbsp;said.

"There will be no impunity," he said, defending the stepped up security measures as "democratic and constitutional."

Pinera&nbsp;held inconclusive talks with opposition parties last week but made no reference to them in segments of the interview aired by the BBC.

Protesters are calling for constitutional reform.&nbsp;Chile's current constitution dates back to the 1973-1990 dictatorship of General Augusto Pinochet.

A survey by pollster Cadem published on Sunday indicated that 87 per cent of Chileans favored such reforms.

The study indicated&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/support-for-chiles-pinera-lowest-for-president-since-pinochet-era-poll-258433">Pinera's approval rating</a> had plunged to 13 per cent.

The government said&nbsp;Chile's economy grew three per cent in September but it forecast a contraction of 0.5 per cent in October due to the unrest.

Chilean President Sebastian Pinera said Tuesday he will not resign in the face of deadly protests over inequality and poor social conditions that have entered their third week.

Chilean President Sebastian Pinera said Tuesday he will not resign in the face of deadly protests over inequality and poor social conditions that have entered their third week. Asked by the BBC in an interview whether he will step down, the billionaire conservative leader said: "No." "These problems have been accumulating for the past 30 years," Pinera said. "I am responsible (for) part of it and I assume my responsiblity, but I'm not the only one." Fresh clashes broke out Tuesday, adding to the violence gripping one of Latin America's most prosperous countries. It has forced the government to cancel two major international economic and climate summits and open talks with the leftist opposition. Thousands of protesters took the streets in the capital, and in the southern cities of Concepcion and Vina del Mar, west of Santiago. Police firing birdshot injured two students among a group trying to overrun a public high school in Santiago, police said. The students were treated at a hospital and released. Citing public order fears, South American football chiefs announced they were switching the venue for a major continental soccer final from Santiago. This month's showpiece Copa Libertadores final will now be held in the Peruvian capital Lima, soccer authority CONMEBOL said after meeting in Paraguay. "The choice is based on the offer of the government of Peru, and on the security guarantees it has given," it said in a statement. Prosecutors say 20 people have died in unrest since the protests began here on October 20. A UN human rights mission is investigating allegations of police brutality. Chile's football federation earlier Tuesday called off a November 15 international friendly in Santiago with Bolivia. In his interview, Pinera defended his decision to declare a state of emergency but promised to look into allegations of police violence and abuse. The interview came as the president announced a package of measures for small and medium-sized businesses hit by the unrest. Some 6,800 companies affected by rioting, looting and fires will benefit from financial aid and tax deductions. Demonstrators and riot police clashed again in the capital Santiago on Tuesday, when around 2,000 people gathered in the capital. The protests and violence were on a smaller scale to Monday's huge rally marking the beginning of a third week of protests in Santiago. On Monday, tens of thousands of people gathered in the Plaza de Italia, the epicenter of the unrest over economic inequality and a raft of other social 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 cannon and tear gas. One officer was hit in the face with a Molotov cocktail. Looting and vandalism were reported in the cities of Vina del Mar, Valparaiso and Concepcion. 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. "There are many alleged complaints about excessive use of force and if that took place I can guarantee you that it will be investigated," Pinera said. "There will be no impunity," he said, defending the stepped up security measures as "democratic and constitutional." Pinera held inconclusive talks with opposition parties last week but made no reference to them in segments of the interview aired by the BBC. Protesters are calling for constitutional reform. Chile's current constitution dates back to the 1973-1990 dictatorship of General Augusto Pinochet. A survey by pollster Cadem published on Sunday indicated that 87 per cent of Chileans favored such reforms. The study indicated Pinera's approval rating had plunged to 13 per cent. The government said Chile's economy grew three per cent in September but it forecast a contraction of 0.5 per cent in October due to the unrest.

Chile leader Pinera says will not resign over protests

Chile's President Sebastian Piner said Wednesday his government had "nothing to hide" concerning allegations that police killed, tortured and <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/chile-leader-pinera-says-will-not-resign-over-protests-260205">sexually assaulted civilians</a> during deadly protests against him.

Prosecutors say five of the 20 deaths recorded in the protests against high living costs were suspected to have been at the hands of security forces.

"We have been totally transparent about the figures because we have nothing to hide," President Sebastian Pinera said in a speech on Wednesday.

A UN human rights mission is investigating allegations of police brutality during the unrest.

Chile's independent National Human Rights Institute says it has brought legal action over 181 cases including alleged murders, sexual violence and torture by the military police.

Pinera said state agents who committed abuses would be punished just as severely as those who carried out vandalism or violence in the protests.

Pinera has reshuffled his government and announced a series of measures aimed at placating the protesters.

In the latest of these, on Wednesday he signed a law guaranteeing a minimum monthly wage of some $467.

But protesters have continued demanding that the right-wing billionaire president step down.

Pinera said in a BBC interview broadcast Tuesday that he would not resign over the protests.

Chile's President Sebastian Piner said Wednesday his government had "nothing to hide" concerning allegations that police killed, tortured and sexually assaulted civilians during deadly protests against him.

Chile's President Sebastian Piner said Wednesday his government had "nothing to hide" concerning allegations that police killed, tortured and sexually assaulted civilians during deadly protests against him. Prosecutors say five of the 20 deaths recorded in the protests against high living costs were suspected to have been at the hands of security forces. "We have been totally transparent about the figures because we have nothing to hide," President Sebastian Pinera said in a speech on Wednesday. A UN human rights mission is investigating allegations of police brutality during the unrest. Chile's independent National Human Rights Institute says it has brought legal action over 181 cases including alleged murders, sexual violence and torture by the military police. Pinera said state agents who committed abuses would be punished just as severely as those who carried out vandalism or violence in the protests. Pinera has reshuffled his government and announced a series of measures aimed at placating the protesters. In the latest of these, on Wednesday he signed a law guaranteeing a minimum monthly wage of some $467. But protesters have continued demanding that the right-wing billionaire president step down. Pinera said in a BBC interview broadcast Tuesday that he would not resign over the protests.

Nothing to hide over police abuse claims: Chile Sebastian Pinera

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

Top US and Chinese trade negotiators will talk again on Friday, China said, as uncertainty swirls over the cancellation of the APEC summit where leaders of the two countries had been expected to meet.

US President Donald Trump said Monday that he expected a "phase one" trade deal with Beijing to be signed on the sidelines of the November summit in Chile, after an 18-month trade impasse between the two economic giants.

But Chile's President Sebastian Pinera announced Wednesday that his country could no longer host the event, due to violent unrest in the city.

"Negotiating teams on the Chinese and US sides have continued to maintain close communication, and negotiations are currently making smooth progress," the Chinese commerce ministry said in a statement Thursday.

"The two sides will continue to push forward negotiations and other work according to the original plan," the ministry said, adding that leaders from both sides will hold another call Friday, a week after senior officials last spoke over the phone.

The White House said later on Wednesday that Trump still hopes to sign a trade deal with his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping in coming weeks.&nbsp;

China and the US have exchanged blows for over a year, with tariffs now impacting hundreds of billions of dollars in two-way trade.

Now with the 2020 presidential election approaching, and Trump under pressure from the impeachment inquiry in Congress, US trade officials have focused on getting a partial deal in the books.

China's Commerce Ministry said on October 26 that both sides had agreed to "properly address each other's core concerns."

Top US and Chinese trade negotiators will talk again on Friday, China said, as uncertainty swirls over the cancellation of the APEC summit where leaders of the two countries had been expected to meet.

Top US and Chinese trade negotiators will talk again on Friday, China said, as uncertainty swirls over the cancellation of the APEC summit where leaders of the two countries had been expected to meet. US President Donald Trump said Monday that he expected a "phase one" trade deal with Beijing to be signed on the sidelines of the November summit in Chile, after an 18-month trade impasse between the two economic giants. But Chile's President Sebastian Pinera announced Wednesday that his country could no longer host the event, due to violent unrest in the city. "Negotiating teams on the Chinese and US sides have continued to maintain close communication, and negotiations are currently making smooth progress," the Chinese commerce ministry said in a statement Thursday. "The two sides will continue to push forward negotiations and other work according to the original plan," the ministry said, adding that leaders from both sides will hold another call Friday, a week after senior officials last spoke over the phone. The White House said later on Wednesday that Trump still hopes to sign a trade deal with his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping in coming weeks. China and the US have exchanged blows for over a year, with tariffs now impacting hundreds of billions of dollars in two-way trade. Now with the 2020 presidential election approaching, and Trump under pressure from the impeachment inquiry in Congress, US trade officials have focused on getting a partial deal in the books. China's Commerce Ministry said on October 26 that both sides had agreed to "properly address each other's core concerns."

US, China top trade negotiators to talk again on Friday

Chile&nbsp;pulled&nbsp;out&nbsp;of hosting two major international summits on Wednesday as it struggled to restore order after more than ten days of <a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/chile-anti-govt-protests-escalate-258114">civil unrest</a> that left at least 23 dead.

President Sebastian Pinera said "common sense" dictated the decision to withdraw from the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation summit and the Cop 25&nbsp;climate&nbsp;change conference.

US President Donald Trump had said he was planning to&nbsp;meet&nbsp;Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping to lock down a<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/united-states-china-close-to-finalising-part-of-a-phase-one-trade-deal-report-258209"> "phase one" agreement</a> at the November 16-17&nbsp;APEC&nbsp;meeting that would partially have ended an 18-month trade war between the world's two biggest economies.

The White House said it looked forward to finalising an agreement "within the same timeframe," although analysts Eurasia Group said that may not happen until the end of the year.

APEC&nbsp;said it supported&nbsp;Chile's decision but gave no indication there would be a replacement summit this year, saying only that Malaysia would&nbsp;host&nbsp;the 2020 event.

Russian leader Vladimir Putin had also been due to attend&nbsp;APEC, while teenage Swedish activist Greta Thunberg was among 25,000 delegates expected for COP 25.

The final of South American football's premier club competition, the Copa Libertadores, between Argentine holders River Plate and Brazilian giants Flamengo will go ahead on November 23 in Santiago,&nbsp;Chile's sports ministry said.

After more than 10 days of street protests, Pinera said&nbsp;Chile&nbsp;was not in a position to&nbsp;host&nbsp;either the&nbsp;APEC&nbsp;summit or the December 2-13&nbsp;climate&nbsp;convention.

The pullout is seen as a blow to&nbsp;Chile's tourism industry, and the Santiago stock exchange dropped 2.8 points while the peso fell to its lowest rate against the dollar since 2003.

"This has been a very difficult decision, a decision that has been deeply painful because we know exactly how important&nbsp;APEC&nbsp;and COP are for&nbsp;Chile&nbsp;and the world," said Pinera.

"When a father has problems, he must always prioritize his family over other options. The same goes for a president, he must always put his own compatriots first, ahead of any other considerations," he added.

Chile&nbsp;is grappling with its worst social crisis in decades, one that shows little sign of abating despite Pinera announcing a raft of measures aimed at placating protesters.

Demonstrators have demanded that the 69-year-old right-wing leader, whose personal fortune is estimated by Forbes at $2.8 billion, step down.

They have been angered by low salaries and pensions, poor public health care and education, and a yawning gap between rich and poor.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/support-for-chiles-pinera-lowest-for-president-since-pinochet-era-poll-258433">Pinera</a> announced last week an increase in the minimum wage and pensions as well as measures to alleviate sky-high health care costs and a streamlining of public offices.

"I'm not rejecting any structural reform," Pinera said Wednesday. "This is the time to listen to the people."&nbsp;

On Monday, he reshuffled his cabinet for the third time since coming to power in March 2018, but the street movement continues.

Protests began on October 18 and during the first few days there was widespread destruction, arson and looting.&nbsp;

Demonstrations have been largely calm over the last week but there were violent clashes between demonstrators and security services on Monday, when shops were looted and a building set on fire.

Huge numbers took to the streets on Wednesday, with the country semi-paralyzed as numerous shops and businesses remained closed.

Canceling the two major international events is more likely to backfire than to placate the demonstrators, University of&nbsp;Chile&nbsp;analyst Octavio Avendano told AFP.

He said it would be seen "as a sign of weakness and a sharpening of the conflict."

Chilean prosecutors announced Wednesday night that they were conducting investigations into the deaths of 23 people during the crisis.

Sixteen of the dead were killed "during the alleged commission of so-called 'common' crimes," five people "by actions of agents of the state" and two "under state custody," prosecutors said on Twitter.&nbsp;

Previously, the official death toll had stood at 20. &nbsp;

A mission led by the United Nations High Commissioner on Human Rights Michelle Bachelet, Chile's former president,&nbsp;is expected to open a probe later this week into allegations of police brutality.

Justice and Human Rights Minister Hernan Larrain admitted on Tuesday that the government recognized that some incidents involving law enforcement during the protests "appear to be human rights violations."&nbsp;

Amnesty International has expressed concern about claims of "sexual torture," reports of eye injuries and situations in which police or military action directly led to a death.

&nbsp;

Chile pulled out of hosting two major international summits on Wednesday as it struggled to restore order after more than ten days of civil unrest that left at least 23 dead.

Chile pulled out of hosting two major international summits on Wednesday as it struggled to restore order after more than ten days of civil unrest that left at least 23 dead. President Sebastian Pinera said "common sense" dictated the decision to withdraw from the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation summit and the Cop 25 climate change conference. US President Donald Trump had said he was planning to meet Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping to lock down a "phase one" agreement at the November 16-17 APEC meeting that would partially have ended an 18-month trade war between the world's two biggest economies. The White House said it looked forward to finalising an agreement "within the same timeframe," although analysts Eurasia Group said that may not happen until the end of the year. APEC said it supported Chile's decision but gave no indication there would be a replacement summit this year, saying only that Malaysia would host the 2020 event. Russian leader Vladimir Putin had also been due to attend APEC, while teenage Swedish activist Greta Thunberg was among 25,000 delegates expected for COP 25. The final of South American football's premier club competition, the Copa Libertadores, between Argentine holders River Plate and Brazilian giants Flamengo will go ahead on November 23 in Santiago, Chile's sports ministry said. After more than 10 days of street protests, Pinera said Chile was not in a position to host either the APEC summit or the December 2-13 climate convention. The pullout is seen as a blow to Chile's tourism industry, and the Santiago stock exchange dropped 2.8 points while the peso fell to its lowest rate against the dollar since 2003. "This has been a very difficult decision, a decision that has been deeply painful because we know exactly how important APEC and COP are for Chile and the world," said Pinera. "When a father has problems, he must always prioritize his family over other options. The same goes for a president, he must always put his own compatriots first, ahead of any other considerations," he added. Chile is grappling with its worst social crisis in decades, one that shows little sign of abating despite Pinera announcing a raft of measures aimed at placating protesters. Demonstrators have demanded that the 69-year-old right-wing leader, whose personal fortune is estimated by Forbes at $2.8 billion, step down. They have been angered by low salaries and pensions, poor public health care and education, and a yawning gap between rich and poor. Pinera announced last week an increase in the minimum wage and pensions as well as measures to alleviate sky-high health care costs and a streamlining of public offices. "I'm not rejecting any structural reform," Pinera said Wednesday. "This is the time to listen to the people." On Monday, he reshuffled his cabinet for the third time since coming to power in March 2018, but the street movement continues. Protests began on October 18 and during the first few days there was widespread destruction, arson and looting. Demonstrations have been largely calm over the last week but there were violent clashes between demonstrators and security services on Monday, when shops were looted and a building set on fire. Huge numbers took to the streets on Wednesday, with the country semi-paralyzed as numerous shops and businesses remained closed. Canceling the two major international events is more likely to backfire than to placate the demonstrators, University of Chile analyst Octavio Avendano told AFP. He said it would be seen "as a sign of weakness and a sharpening of the conflict." Chilean prosecutors announced Wednesday night that they were conducting investigations into the deaths of 23 people during the crisis. Sixteen of the dead were killed "during the alleged commission of so-called 'common' crimes," five people "by actions of agents of the state" and two "under state custody," prosecutors said on Twitter. Previously, the official death toll had stood at 20. A mission led by the United Nations High Commissioner on Human Rights Michelle Bachelet, Chile's former president, is expected to open a probe later this week into allegations of police brutality. Justice and Human Rights Minister Hernan Larrain admitted on Tuesday that the government recognized that some incidents involving law enforcement during the protests "appear to be human rights violations." Amnesty International has expressed concern about claims of "sexual torture," reports of eye injuries and situations in which police or military action directly led to a death.

Crisis-wracked Chile pulls out as APEC, climate meet host

Support for&nbsp;Chile's Sebastian Pinera has plunged to just 14per cent&nbsp;amid recent unrest, according to a poll published on Sunday, the lowest approval rating for a&nbsp;Chilean president since the country's return to democracy three decades ago.

The survey, published in local daily La Tercera, was conducted by&nbsp;Chilean pollster Cadem between Wednesday and Thursday. It came just before a rally that saw <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/chilean-president-vows-major-reshuffle-after-week-of-protests-258314">1 million&nbsp;Chileans</a>, or just under one-fifth the city's population, take to the streets Friday to call for reforms to the country's social and economic model.

Daily La Tercera called Pinera's 14per cent&nbsp;approval rating a "historical minimum," and the lowest since the 1973-1990 military rule of dictator Augusto Pinochet. More than three-quarters of&nbsp;Chileans disapproved of the centre-right Pinera's administration, the poll found.

Chile, the world's top copper producer, has long been one of the region's most prosperous and stable free-market economies. But entrenched inequality and spiralling costs of living ignited massive, and sometimes violent,<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/chile-anti-govt-protests-escalate-258114"> protests</a> last week.

Similar scenes have played out in cities across the world in recent months, from <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/protests-erupt-in-hong-kong-police-fire-tear-gas-to-clear-rally-258401">Hong Kong</a> to Beirut to Barcelona, sharing in common anger at ruling elites.

In&nbsp;Chile, a hike in subway fares more than a week ago proved the breaking point. Small protests quickly boiled over into riots that have killed at least 17 people, resulted in more than 7,000 arrests and caused upwards of $1.4 billion in losses to&nbsp;Chilean businesses.

Pinera, a billionaire businessman, last week called for a new "social pact," to stem the unrest. He promised higher taxes on the rich to help boost the minimum wage and pensions, lower the prices of medicines and assure proper health insurance.

The Cadem poll found that 80 per cent&nbsp;of&nbsp;Chileans did not think his reforms were adequate.

Roberto Izikson, a pollster and political scientist with Cadem, told Reuters Pinera's ratings were already trending downwards before the protests began.

"We will see how the government plays the last few cards it holds to confront this new scenario," Izikson said.

The centre-right Pinera trounced the leftist opposition during 2017 elections. But mass rallies forcing Pinera to change his tone and upend his policy goals.

On Saturday, Pinera promised a major cabinet shake-up, though he has yet to announce details.

Support for Chile's Sebastian Pinera has plunged to just 14per cent amid recent unrest, according to a poll published on Sunday, the lowest approval rating for a Chilean president since the country's return to democracy three decades ago.

Support for Chile's Sebastian Pinera has plunged to just 14per cent amid recent unrest, according to a poll published on Sunday, the lowest approval rating for a Chilean president since the country's return to democracy three decades ago. The survey, published in local daily La Tercera, was conducted by Chilean pollster Cadem between Wednesday and Thursday. It came just before a rally that saw 1 million Chileans, or just under one-fifth the city's population, take to the streets Friday to call for reforms to the country's social and economic model. Daily La Tercera called Pinera's 14per cent approval rating a "historical minimum," and the lowest since the 1973-1990 military rule of dictator Augusto Pinochet. More than three-quarters of Chileans disapproved of the centre-right Pinera's administration, the poll found. Chile, the world's top copper producer, has long been one of the region's most prosperous and stable free-market economies. But entrenched inequality and spiralling costs of living ignited massive, and sometimes violent, protests last week. Similar scenes have played out in cities across the world in recent months, from Hong Kong to Beirut to Barcelona, sharing in common anger at ruling elites. In Chile, a hike in subway fares more than a week ago proved the breaking point. Small protests quickly boiled over into riots that have killed at least 17 people, resulted in more than 7,000 arrests and caused upwards of $1.4 billion in losses to Chilean businesses. Pinera, a billionaire businessman, last week called for a new "social pact," to stem the unrest. He promised higher taxes on the rich to help boost the minimum wage and pensions, lower the prices of medicines and assure proper health insurance. The Cadem poll found that 80 per cent of Chileans did not think his reforms were adequate. Roberto Izikson, a pollster and political scientist with Cadem, told Reuters Pinera's ratings were already trending downwards before the protests began. "We will see how the government plays the last few cards it holds to confront this new scenario," Izikson said. The centre-right Pinera trounced the leftist opposition during 2017 elections. But mass rallies forcing Pinera to change his tone and upend his policy goals. On Saturday, Pinera promised a major cabinet shake-up, though he has yet to announce details.

Support for Chile President Pinera lowest since Pinochet era: Poll

Chilean President Sebastian Pinera on Monday ended a state of emergency that lasted more than a week amid <a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/chile-anti-govt-protests-escalate-258114">mass protests</a>, but demonstrations continued nonetheless.

The decision to lift the decree at midnight, just two days after more than a <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/one-million-chileans-march-in-santiago-city-grinds-to-halt-258235">million people took</a> to the country's streets demanding economic and political change, comes after the equally unpopular week-long nighttime curfews ended on Saturday.

Authorities imposed both the state of emergency and curfews last weekend after&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/why-people-are-protesting-in-chile-257320">Chile&nbsp;was rocked</a> by its worst civil unrest in decades.

What originated as a student protest against a modest hike in metro fares quickly got out of control as demonstrations turned deadly.

A message on the presidency's official Twitter account said the state of emergency, which had seen 20,000 soldiers and police deployed on the streets, would end "in all the regions and towns where it was established."

This measure came a day after Pinera said he had "asked all <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/chilean-president-vows-major-reshuffle-after-week-of-protests-258314">ministers to resign</a> in order to form a new government."

"We are in a new reality," Pinera said on Saturday. "Chile&nbsp;is different from what it was a week ago."

But demonstrations continued on Sunday as thousands of people marched to the seat of Congress in Valparaiso, 120 kilometers (75 miles) west of the capital Santiago.

"The strength of the social movement that has taken over the streets has been its... peaceful and constructive character," said Jorge Sharp, Valparaiso's mayor.

Some 100,000 people participated in the march, which ended in isolated clashes between demonstrators and the police, according to Sharp.

The government has been struggling to craft an effective response to the protests and a growing list of economic and political demands that include Pinera's resignation.

A group of around a thousand cyclists stopped outside the presidential palace in Santiago on Sunday, chanting: "Listen up Pinera: go to hell."

Around 15,000 people gathered peacefully in the capital's O'Higgins Park, according to police.

The breadth and ferocity of the demonstrations appeared to have blindsided the government of&nbsp;Chile, long one of Latin America's richest and most stable countries.&nbsp;

Demonstrators are angry at&nbsp;Chile's neo-liberal social model, low salaries and pensions, high health care and education costs, and a yawning gap between rich and poor.

Billionaire Pinera, who assumed office for a second time in March 2018, had already shuffled his cabinet twice in 15 months as doubts grew about a slowing economy and his leadership.

He offered a raft of measures earlier this week aimed at calming the public ire, including an increased minimum wage and pensions, some reductions in health care costs, and a streamlining of parliament.

"These measures aren't enough, even though they're an important step in the people's demands," said electrical engineer Eduardo Perez, 49.

By Saturday afternoon, the military presence in the capital Santiago had been already visibly reduced.

The week of unrest began with an initial burst of violence as protesters and looters destroyed metro stations, torched supermarkets, smashed traffic lights and bus stops, and erected burning street barricades.

At least 20 people died,&nbsp;half in fires started by looters,&nbsp;in the worst political violence since&nbsp;Chile&nbsp;returned to democracy after the Augusto Pinochet dictatorship from 1973-1990.&nbsp;

The police and army troops have been accused of using unnecessary force in putting down the protests.&nbsp;The United Nations is sending a team to investigate allegations of abuse.

The national human rights institute INDH said 584 people had been injured and 2,410 detained during the protests.

Hundreds of volunteers on Sunday joined in a huge clean-up operation in Santiago, washing down or painting walls that had been scrawled with graffiti and clearing up broken glass and the remnants of burned-out barricades.

The street movement still lacks recognizable leaders, though, and was mostly roused through social media, which analysts say makes it harder for the government to negotiate any resolution.

There were fears that continuing protests could put at risk the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) trade summit in Santiago from November 16-17, but the government said on Thursday it would go ahead.

US President Donald Trump and his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping are among those expected to attend the APEC meeting.

&nbsp;

Chilean President Sebastian Pinera on Monday ended a state of emergency that lasted more than a week amid mass protests, but demonstrations continued nonetheless.

Chilean President Sebastian Pinera on Monday ended a state of emergency that lasted more than a week amid mass protests, but demonstrations continued nonetheless. The decision to lift the decree at midnight, just two days after more than a million people took to the country's streets demanding economic and political change, comes after the equally unpopular week-long nighttime curfews ended on Saturday. Authorities imposed both the state of emergency and curfews last weekend after Chile was rocked by its worst civil unrest in decades. What originated as a student protest against a modest hike in metro fares quickly got out of control as demonstrations turned deadly. A message on the presidency's official Twitter account said the state of emergency, which had seen 20,000 soldiers and police deployed on the streets, would end "in all the regions and towns where it was established." This measure came a day after Pinera said he had "asked all ministers to resign in order to form a new government." "We are in a new reality," Pinera said on Saturday. "Chile is different from what it was a week ago." But demonstrations continued on Sunday as thousands of people marched to the seat of Congress in Valparaiso, 120 kilometers (75 miles) west of the capital Santiago. "The strength of the social movement that has taken over the streets has been its... peaceful and constructive character," said Jorge Sharp, Valparaiso's mayor. Some 100,000 people participated in the march, which ended in isolated clashes between demonstrators and the police, according to Sharp. The government has been struggling to craft an effective response to the protests and a growing list of economic and political demands that include Pinera's resignation. A group of around a thousand cyclists stopped outside the presidential palace in Santiago on Sunday, chanting: "Listen up Pinera: go to hell." Around 15,000 people gathered peacefully in the capital's O'Higgins Park, according to police. The breadth and ferocity of the demonstrations appeared to have blindsided the government of Chile, long one of Latin America's richest and most stable countries. Demonstrators are angry at Chile's neo-liberal social model, low salaries and pensions, high health care and education costs, and a yawning gap between rich and poor. Billionaire Pinera, who assumed office for a second time in March 2018, had already shuffled his cabinet twice in 15 months as doubts grew about a slowing economy and his leadership. He offered a raft of measures earlier this week aimed at calming the public ire, including an increased minimum wage and pensions, some reductions in health care costs, and a streamlining of parliament. "These measures aren't enough, even though they're an important step in the people's demands," said electrical engineer Eduardo Perez, 49. By Saturday afternoon, the military presence in the capital Santiago had been already visibly reduced. The week of unrest began with an initial burst of violence as protesters and looters destroyed metro stations, torched supermarkets, smashed traffic lights and bus stops, and erected burning street barricades. At least 20 people died, half in fires started by looters, in the worst political violence since Chile returned to democracy after the Augusto Pinochet dictatorship from 1973-1990. The police and army troops have been accused of using unnecessary force in putting down the protests. The United Nations is sending a team to investigate allegations of abuse. The national human rights institute INDH said 584 people had been injured and 2,410 detained during the protests. Hundreds of volunteers on Sunday joined in a huge clean-up operation in Santiago, washing down or painting walls that had been scrawled with graffiti and clearing up broken glass and the remnants of burned-out barricades. The street movement still lacks recognizable leaders, though, and was mostly roused through social media, which analysts say makes it harder for the government to negotiate any resolution. There were fears that continuing protests could put at risk the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) trade summit in Santiago from November 16-17, but the government said on Thursday it would go ahead. US President Donald Trump and his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping are among those expected to attend the APEC meeting.

Chile president lifts state of emergency as protests continue

Chilean President Sebastian Pinera on Saturday announced a major government reshuffle, a day after more than one million people took to the streets in a massive protest for economic and political change.

Chilean President Sebastian Pinera on Saturday announced a major government reshuffle, a day after more than one million people took to the streets in a massive protest for economic and political change. "I asked all ministers to resign in order to form a new government and to be able to respond to these new demands," he said in an address to the nation, adding that a highly controversial state of emergency might be lifted Sunday if "circumstances permit." The military also announced that an overnight curfew would be lifted Saturday. "We are in a new reality," Pinera said. "Chile is different from what it was a week ago." The government has been struggling to craft an effective response to the massive protests that were sparked by a rise in subway fares but fueled by a growing list of economic and political demands that include Pinera's resignation. The breadth and ferocity of the demonstrations appear to have caught the government of Chile -- long one of Latin America's richest and most stable countries -- off guard. Another reshuffling At least 19 people have died in the worst political violence in decades, and there has been widespread looting and arson. Pinera, who assumed office in March 2018, had already shuffled his cabinet twice in 15 months as doubts grew about a slowing economy and his leadership. One of the most controversial members in the current cabinet is Interior Minister Andres Chadwick, the president's cousin. The police and army troops have been accused of using unnecessary force in putting down the protests. The United Nations is sending a team to investigate allegations of abuse. More than one million people, representing a range of political backgrounds and from all social classes, took to the streets of Santiago and other cities on Friday in some of the largest protests ever seen in this country of 18 million. Demonstrators carrying indigenous and national flags sang popular resistance songs from the 1973-90 Augusto Pinochet dictatorship era. Santiago's governor Karla Rubilar praised the march, saying it represented "the dream of a new Chile." Police said 820,000 people marched in the capital.

Chilean president vows major reshuffle after week of protests

Chilean President Sebastian Pinera announced a package of social measures Tuesday aimed at stemming days of protests over economic inequality that have swept the country and claimed 15 lives.

Apologizing to the nation for failing to anticipate the outbreak of social unrest, Pinera said his government had "received with humility and clarity the message Chileans have given us."

The leader vowed to increase the universal basic pension by 20 per cent, cancel a recent 9.2 per cent increase in electricity bills and propose a law that would see the state cover the costs of expensive medical treatment.

"I recognize this lack of vision and I apologize to my compatriots," Pinera said in an address from the presidential palace in Santiago.

Pinera also pledged a state subsidy to increase the minimum wage to 350,000 pesos ($482) a month and said the government would introduce health insurance for medication, which is among the most expensive in the region.

Earlier in the day, he met with the leaders of some of Chile's opposition parties as he sought a way to stem the country's worst violence in decades, initially triggered by an increase in metro fares.&nbsp;

The protests, which began Friday, mushroomed into a broader outcry against social and economic woes, including a yawning gap between rich and poor, in a country normally considered one of the most stable in Latin America.

Pinera quickly suspended the metro fare hike but also declared that Chile was "at war against a powerful, implacable enemy," and imposed a state of emergency in Santiago and most of Chile's 16 regions.

Adopting a more conciliatory tone, he later called for Tuesday's meeting, which was boycotted by three of the largest opposition groups, including the powerful Socialist Party.

The day's protests were mostly peaceful, particularly in the capital, although looting continued in other towns.

But with the country's largest union, the Workers' United Center of Chile (CUT) alongside 18 other social organizations, calling strikes and protests for Thursday and Friday, the pressure had been on Pinera to act.

The protest violence -- widespread looting, arson and clashes with the 20,000 security forces deployed on the streets -- is the worst to hit Chile since the country's return to democracy after the 1973-1990 rightwing dictatorship led by General Augusto Pinochet.

On Tuesday the army announced a nighttime curfew -- from 8:00 pm to 5:00 am -- for the fourth day in a row.

Huge wealth disparity

Before Pinera's announcement, one of Chile's largest conglomerates, Quinenco, decided to act swiftly and promised to increase its minimum salaries to 500,000 pesos a month from January 1 -- 60 per cent more than the current minimum wage of 301,000 pesos.

Chile's big business conglomerates are one of the major factors in the huge wealth disparity that has angered protesters.

A 55-year-old man taking part in Monday's protests, who gave his name only as Orlando, told AFP that low salaries and pensions, waiting lists at hospitals and high prices for medicine, were the true reasons for the protests.

The government started naming some of the dead on Tuesday. Nine had died in fires, one was electrocuted and five were shot, four of those by the security forces.

Eleven of the fatalities were in the Santiago region, while a Peruvian and an Ecuadorian were among the dead.

Chile's human rights institute said more than 200 people had been taken to the hospital, almost half with gunshot wounds, while many others suffered eye injuries from pellets.

Since the unrest began, more than 2,600 people have been detained.

Relative calm

Tuesday saw almost none of the violence, looting or torching of public property and private businesses that marked the first few days of protest.

However, television images showed looters in one town smashing a bus into a department store before ransacking it.

In central Santiago, many shops and businesses that were closed on Monday reopened. Commuters and shoppers formed long lines at bus stops and supermarkets.

Only one of the Santiago metro's seven lines -- which normally carry three million people a day -- was operational, although a fleet of 4,300 public buses took up much of the slack.

More than half of Santiago's 136 metro stations suffered heavy damage during last week's protests.

Around 50 schools and 10 universities in the capital remained closed on Tuesday but hospitals and clinics operated normally.

At Santiago's international airport, South American airline giant LATAM brought out deck chairs for passengers stranded by flight cancellations caused by the protests.

Chile's football association said it was suspending its professional leagues for a second successive weekend.&nbsp;

Security forces have previously used tear gas and water cannon on stone-throwing demonstrators who set up street barricades and lit fires.

Chilean President Sebastian Pinera announced a package of social measures Tuesday aimed at stemming days of protests over economic inequality that have swept the country and claimed 15 lives.

Chilean President Sebastian Pinera announced a package of social measures Tuesday aimed at stemming days of protests over economic inequality that have swept the country and claimed 15 lives. Apologizing to the nation for failing to anticipate the outbreak of social unrest, Pinera said his government had "received with humility and clarity the message Chileans have given us." The leader vowed to increase the universal basic pension by 20 per cent, cancel a recent 9.2 per cent increase in electricity bills and propose a law that would see the state cover the costs of expensive medical treatment. "I recognize this lack of vision and I apologize to my compatriots," Pinera said in an address from the presidential palace in Santiago. Pinera also pledged a state subsidy to increase the minimum wage to 350,000 pesos ($482) a month and said the government would introduce health insurance for medication, which is among the most expensive in the region. Earlier in the day, he met with the leaders of some of Chile's opposition parties as he sought a way to stem the country's worst violence in decades, initially triggered by an increase in metro fares. The protests, which began Friday, mushroomed into a broader outcry against social and economic woes, including a yawning gap between rich and poor, in a country normally considered one of the most stable in Latin America. Pinera quickly suspended the metro fare hike but also declared that Chile was "at war against a powerful, implacable enemy," and imposed a state of emergency in Santiago and most of Chile's 16 regions. Adopting a more conciliatory tone, he later called for Tuesday's meeting, which was boycotted by three of the largest opposition groups, including the powerful Socialist Party. The day's protests were mostly peaceful, particularly in the capital, although looting continued in other towns. But with the country's largest union, the Workers' United Center of Chile (CUT) alongside 18 other social organizations, calling strikes and protests for Thursday and Friday, the pressure had been on Pinera to act. The protest violence -- widespread looting, arson and clashes with the 20,000 security forces deployed on the streets -- is the worst to hit Chile since the country's return to democracy after the 1973-1990 rightwing dictatorship led by General Augusto Pinochet. On Tuesday the army announced a nighttime curfew -- from 8:00 pm to 5:00 am -- for the fourth day in a row. Huge wealth disparity Before Pinera's announcement, one of Chile's largest conglomerates, Quinenco, decided to act swiftly and promised to increase its minimum salaries to 500,000 pesos a month from January 1 -- 60 per cent more than the current minimum wage of 301,000 pesos. Chile's big business conglomerates are one of the major factors in the huge wealth disparity that has angered protesters. A 55-year-old man taking part in Monday's protests, who gave his name only as Orlando, told AFP that low salaries and pensions, waiting lists at hospitals and high prices for medicine, were the true reasons for the protests. The government started naming some of the dead on Tuesday. Nine had died in fires, one was electrocuted and five were shot, four of those by the security forces. Eleven of the fatalities were in the Santiago region, while a Peruvian and an Ecuadorian were among the dead. Chile's human rights institute said more than 200 people had been taken to the hospital, almost half with gunshot wounds, while many others suffered eye injuries from pellets. Since the unrest began, more than 2,600 people have been detained. Relative calm Tuesday saw almost none of the violence, looting or torching of public property and private businesses that marked the first few days of protest. However, television images showed looters in one town smashing a bus into a department store before ransacking it. In central Santiago, many shops and businesses that were closed on Monday reopened. Commuters and shoppers formed long lines at bus stops and supermarkets. Only one of the Santiago metro's seven lines -- which normally carry three million people a day -- was operational, although a fleet of 4,300 public buses took up much of the slack. More than half of Santiago's 136 metro stations suffered heavy damage during last week's protests. Around 50 schools and 10 universities in the capital remained closed on Tuesday but hospitals and clinics operated normally. At Santiago's international airport, South American airline giant LATAM brought out deck chairs for passengers stranded by flight cancellations caused by the protests. Chile's football association said it was suspending its professional leagues for a second successive weekend. Security forces have previously used tear gas and water cannon on stone-throwing demonstrators who set up street barricades and lit fires.

Chile president announces social measures to stem street violence