1 dead in Chile protests as president speaks in congress

Masked protesters attack a police water canon in front of a burning pharmacy near Congress where President Michelle Bachelet was presenting the state-of-the-nation report, in Valparaiso, Chile, Saturday, May 21, 2016. The anti-government protest began as a peaceful march but turned rough as some demonstrators threw rocks at police and gasoline bombs at buildings, resulting in the death of one man who reportedly died of asphyxiation. (AP Photo/Esteban Felix) (The Associated Press)

prev next

Masked protesters throw stones at a water cannon as police respond with high-pressure blasts of water, near Congress where President Michelle Bachelet was presenting the state-of-the-nation report, in Valparaiso, Chile, Saturday, May 21, 2016. The anti-government protest began as a peaceful march but turned rough as some demonstrators threw rocks at police and gasoline bombs at buildings, resulting in the death of one man who reportedly died of asphyxiation.(AP Photo/Esteban Felix) (The Associated Press)

A masked protester runs from police responding with tear gas and high-pressure blasts of water, near Congress where President Michelle Bachelet was presenting the state-of-the-nation report, in Valparaiso, Chile, Saturday, May 21, 2016. The anti-government protest began as a peaceful march but turned rough as some demonstrators threw rocks at police and gasoline bombs at buildings, resulting in the death of one man who reportedly died of asphyxiation. (AP Photo/Esteban Felix) (The Associated Press)

SANTIAGO, Chile – Violent protests have broken out in Chile as President Michelle Bachelet presents a state-of-the-nation report to Congress.

One man has reportedly died of asphyxiation after masked demonstrators burned a pharmacy and a supermarket in downtown Valparaiso, which is where the South American nation's congress meets.

Local TV broadcast images of smoke rising from different parts of the city. Government spokesman Marcelo Diaz condemned the man's death in comments to TVN television.

The protest began as a peaceful march but turned rough as some demonstrators threw rocks at police and gasoline bombs at buildings. Officers responded with tear gas and high-pressure blasts of water.

Bachelet emphasized achievements such as a reform guaranteeing free education in her speech Saturday. She called it a process from which "there is no turning back."