Chile unrest: Protest continues even after govt drops fare hike

Protesters burned several subway stations and damaged dozens of others, and some set fire to an energy company building. At least ten people have been killed in this anti-governmental protests in the capital Chile.

Santiago: Violence continued to mar the Chilean capital despite the government reversing its decision to hike subway fare as authorities here extended the curfew for a second consecutive night on Sunday.

The dusk-to-dawn curfew goes into effect from 7:00 pm after which people should be calm and all in their homes, top defence official General Javier Iturriaga told.

Iturriaga was appointed the head of national defence by President Sebastian Pinera on Friday as he declared a state of emergency over the unrest.

At least ten people have been killed in this anti-governmental protests in the capital.

The three died in a fire inside a Santiago supermarket that was ransacked as violent clashes between protesters and security forces continued, the mayor of Santiago said.

Soldiers patrolled the streets in Santiago on Saturday for the first time since the military dictatorship of General Augusto Pinochet ended in 1990 to keep order following violent protests over subway fares.

The military presence was part of a state of emergency declared by Pinera.

The Chilean government has now suspended the rise in fares in the aftermath of the protests.

"I have listened with humility to the voice of my compatriots," Pinera said on Saturday evening.

He also appealed to people taking to the streets, saying there are good reasons to do so but calling on them to demonstrate peacefully and saying nobody has the right to act with brutal criminal violence.

Protesters burned several subway stations and damaged dozens of others, and some set fire to an energy company building. Officials reported that 156 police officers and 11 civilians have sustained injuries and more than 300 people have been arrested so far in the Chilean capital.

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