Chilean Police, Students Clash Before APEC Summit
By VOA News, Washington, 18 November 2004
http://www.voanews.com/english/2004-11-18-voa2.cfm

SantiagoRiot police in Santiago, Chile have fired tear gas and water cannon at hundreds of students protesting President Bush's arrival later this week at an economic summit in the Chilean capital.

Street clashes erupted Wednesday, just before foreign and trade ministers from the 21-member Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) opened two days of talks on free trade and other issues.

Police arrested dozens of demonstrators protesting the U.S.-led war in Iraq and globalization, which they say widens the gap between rich and poor nations. No injuries were reported.

In addition to President Bush, outgoing U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell, Chinese President Hu Jintao and Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi will attend the talks, which take place this Saturday and Sunday.

Some information for this story provided by AP and AFP

APEC 2004www.agp.org

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