Chile gripped by 48-hour general strike

24/08/11 23:03 CET

world news

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A two day general strike is underway in Chile with unions furious that ordinary Chileans are seeing little of the country’s booming wealth from mining.

It is also a chance for the public to show their anger at the billionaire president Sebastian Pinero shown by polls to be the most unpopular leader in the 20 years since the end of General Pinochet’s rule.

The majority of demonstrations in the capital Santiago and other cities were peaceful, but police responded to some stone throwing with water-cannon and tear-gas.

Chile’s economy is a model in Latin America, growing at 6.6 per cent fuelled by record copper prices. Many ordinary Chileans feel they are not being included in the country’s economic miracle.

The government estimates the strike will cost Chile 140-million euros per day.

More about: Chile, Clashes and riots, Protest, Strike

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