CHILEAN POLICE USED TEAR GAS AND WATER CANNONS TO SCATTER THOUSANDS OF STUDENTS MARCHING AND DANCING IN THE STREETS ON TUESDAY TO PROTEST BUS FARES, EXAM FEES AND POORLY EQUIPPED SCHOOLS, REUTERS REPORTED. DOZENS OF STUDENTS WERE ARRESTED IN THE CAPITAL AND HUNDREDS OF SCHOOLS CLOSED ALL OVER CHILE AS MORE THAN 300,000 STUDENTS OCCUPIED SCHOOL GROUNDS, CALLING FOR IMPROVED EDUCATION IN ONE OF SOUTH AMERICA'S WEALTHIEST COUNTRIES. THE PROTESTS FORCED THE BACHELET GOVERNMENT, WHICH TOOK OFFICE IN MARCH, TO BACK DOWN FROM AN EARLIER REFUSAL TO NEGOTIATE WITH THE STUDENTS. EDUCATION MINISTER MARTIN ZILIC SAID HE WOULD MEET WITH STUDENT LEADERS TO HEAR THEIR DEMANDS. PROTESTS BEGAN TWO WEEKS AGO WHEN STUDENTS TOOK OVER A FEW SCHOOLS IN THE CAPITAL -- SLEEPING OVERNIGHT IN CLASSROOMS AND EATING FOOD BROUGHT IN BY SYMPATHETIC PARENTS. THE MOVEMENT SPREAD ALL OVER THE COUNTRY, CHILE'S BIGGEST STUDENT UPRISING IN DECADES AND THE FIRST MAJOR STREET PROTESTS FACED BY NEW PRESIDENT MICHELLE BACHELET.
