TENS of thousands of students protested in Chile yesterday in the first march demanding education reform since President Michelle Bachelet took power on promises of deep changes.

Marchers passed through the streets of central Santiago towards the La Moneda presidential palace in a mostly peaceful protest that turned violent at the end as hooded rioters clashed with police, throwing rocks and petrol bombs. 

Around 1,800 police officers flanked the march that student leaders estimated at 100,000-strong but police said claimed was closer to 40,000.