Chilean students in Santiago battle police with slingshots

Police in Chile have used water canons and teargas to disperse student demonstrators calling for educational reform.

About 1,000 students attempted to march through downtown Santiago Monday. They were met by police who broke up the protest.

Students threw rocks at police vehicles and tried to block roads with burning tires.

The protest was smaller than one conducted last week by some 800,000 students. The students demanded free public transportation and fee waivers for college entrance exams. They also wanted reform of the education law created under former dictator General Augusto Pinochet.

Negotiations between the students and the government ended Friday with no agreement.

President Michelle Bachelet has promised to reduce fares for student bus passes, but rejected demands for free transportation, saying it is too costly.