SANTIAGO, Chile – Police clashed with demonstrators Saturday night in several working-class neighborhoods that were the scene of violent protests to commemorate the killing of two brothers under the 1973-90 dictatorship of Gen. Augusto Pinochet.
One police officer was shot in the leg. Police said 27 demonstrators had been arrested by midnight.
Dr. Patricia Nilo at the Police Hospital said the condition of Corp. Gonzalo Mardones was "serious but not life threatening."
Six other officers were injured when their vehicle crashed as it rushed to one of the many intersections blocked by the protesters with blazing barricades.
The demonstrators tossed firebombs at police vehicles, and shots were heard at several points in the city.
Similar protests occur every year on this date, which leftist groups call the "Day of the Young Combatant," remembering the police killings of leftist brothers Rafael and Eduardo Vergara on March 29, 1985.
This year's protest, however, appeared less serious than in previous years. Last year, 819 people were arrested and 32 police officers were injured.
Saturday's protests were preceded by similar demonstrations Friday night in which 29 people were arrested. Earlier, police briefly detained 240 demonstrators in a memorial march organized by high school students.
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