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Chile probes Eastern European interference in protests

Chile probes Eastern European interference in protests

Chile protest

Chileis investigating "excessive internet traffic" that could signal that anEasternEuropeancountry stoked weeks of deadly unrest, Foreign Minister Teodoro Ribero said Tuesday.

"Chilean international organisms are investigating whether or not there is direct internationalinterference," Ribero told reporters.

"What we do know is that in the days after October 18, there was an important share of internet use coming from a country inEasternEurope toChile," he said.

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He did not name the country nor give further details about the nature of the allegedinterference.

"There is excessive internet traffic" around that period, Ribero said, including the "creation of false profiles."

Ribera's comments come after Russia denied US accusations that it used online trolling to stir up tensions inChile, where 23 people have died in weeks of violent demonstrations that swept the South American country from October 18.

In a late October phone call to hisChilecounterpart Sebastian Pinera, US President Donald Trump "denounced foreign efforts to undermine Chilean institutions, democracy or society," according to the White House.