Chile: 250 arrests, unions call nationwide strike

Chiles union and student leaders called Friday for shutting down the nations economy for a day in response to a police crackdown on education reform demonstrations that resulted in more than 250 arrests and left 30 people injured.Arturo Martinez, who runs the CUT labor coalition, set the nationwide strike for Oct. 19. By his side was student leader Camila Vallejo, who accused the government of letting police attack peaceful marchers Thursday in violation of Chiles constitution.But the government warned that it will respond firmly to any violence stemming from mass protests.Our hand wont tremble and we wont show any weakness in seeking to control situations of public order, said government spokesman Andres Chadwick.Theyre not going to weaken us by attacking police and making them victims, he added.The government refused to authorize Thursdays march, which was called by students after talks on demands for free, better-funded and higher-quality state-run education through the university level broke down Wednesday night.Police turned out in large numbers even before their march began, using water cannons, tear gas and officers on horseback to keep about 10,000 students from gathering. Officers chased rock-throwing protesters onto university campuses and fired tear gas into the student government headquarters, Vallejo said.By days end, 168 had been arrested in the capital, and more than 100 more around Chile. Police said 25 officers and five civilians were injured.