Chile students demand more for education

SANTIAGO - Police used tear gas and water cannons to try to break up Chile's biggest student protests in decades.

Thousands of students marched to demand that the Government spend more of its fat budget surplus on education.

Dozens of students were arrested in the capital and protest leaders said half a million students occupied hundreds of schools all over Chile calling for free bus fare, free college entrance exams, more teachers and improved school buildings.

Profit from high-priced copper, Chile's main product, has handed the Government billions of dollars of budget surpluses.

- REUTERS