Water cannon and burning barricades as Chile protest fires up

Protesters clashed with security forces in Santiago as an anti-government protest flared up on Friday. A water cannon vehicle doused protesters who threw items at police vehicles in the Chilean capital, Santiago. Others gathered around a burning barricade in a show of defiance. Since October, Chile has been rocked by protests that started over a hike in public transport fares and broadened to include calls for better pensions, healthcare and education.

Organizers now want to revive the protest movement to pile pressure on the government. On December 23, Chilean President Sebastian Pinera signed off on a referendum to be held on a new constitution, which he vowed would generate a solid, compassionate and legitimate framework. That would help reunify the country after months of intense protests over inequality and elitism.