Footages on social media show police clashing with the protesters, using water cannons and tear gas to disperse the protesters who responded with projectiles and Molotov cocktails, setting a water cannon vehicle on fire, with the clashes disrupting capital’s traffic.

Political and social organizations in Chile called for a new wave of protests on streets throughout March, ahead of the referendum on changing the constitution on April 26.

Furious Chileans have for weeks been protesting social and economic inequality, and against an entrenched political elite that comes from a small number of the wealthiest families in the country, among other issues.

The crisis is the worst in three decades of Chilean democracy and has led to 26 deaths and more than 12,000 injuries, according to the Organization of American States, with another 20,600 people detained, AFP reported.

As with every Friday, since protests began on October 18, thousands gathered at Plaza Italia in the center of Santiago to wave flags, sing and dance in a show of opposition President Sebastian Pinera’s conservative government.

Protesters held up a huge Chilean flag with a closed eye, a symbol of the 300 people who have suffered optical injuries during confrontations with police.

Some demonstrators armed with stones and Molotov cocktails clashed with police, who scattered them with tear gas and water cannon.

Officers erected barricades around the square later in the evening.

Chile’s unrest began with a demonstration against a price hike on metro tickets in Santiago, which spiraled into violent protests across the country.

Lawmakers in Chile’s National Congress last month agreed to hold a referendum on updating the country’s constitution, in force since 1980 and enacted by the former military junta of Augusto Pinochet.

Protesters have demanded the charter be changed to establish the state’s responsibility to provide education and healthcare.

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Dressed in black, marching silently and raising one fist, around a thousand women on Friday demanded justice for those killed and injured during the last two weeks of social unrest in Chile. Iran News covers the story of protests in Chile to keep pressure in Chile government..

Santiago authorities said the protest in the city drew about 20,000 demonstrators, including many young people and families. Isolated clashes broke out after security forces tried to disperse protesters with tear gas and water cannon.

“Justice, truth, no to impunity,” chanted the women marchers in front of the presidential palace in central Santiago, as their silent protest burst to life.

“We’re not going to back down until the government answers us about the deaths. We feel betrayed by this government,” Marco, a 22-year-old student, told AFP.

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Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif warns that the sanctions imposed by the United States against member states of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) have put hundreds of millions of people at risk and hampered global trade.

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In a televised speech on Tuesday, Pinera promised an immediate 20 percent increase in government-subsidized pensions, a guaranteed wage of $480, reduction in prices of medicines for the poor, and the stabilization of electricity costs.

He also announced a new tax bracket of 40 percent for those earning more than $11,000 a month, as well as looking to cut the wages of lawmakers and public officials, Al Jazeera reported.

Pinera also took the opportunity and asked for forgiveness for the past and current governments that failed to address the deep inequalities that are afflicting Latin America’s fifth largest economy.

“The people have delivered a clear message,” Pinera said.

“It’s true that these problems didn’t appear in the last couple of days. They have been accumulating for decades, but it’s also true that the governments were not able to acknowledge the situation in its complete magnitude.

“I recognize this lack of vision, and I apologies to my countrymen,” he added.

Pinera said he hoped to turn recent violent protests in an “opportunity” for Chile “to make up for lost time”.

Claudia Mix, a congresswoman, dismissed Pinera comments on Twitter, saying that “Chile needed a new social pact with greater political and social democracy”.

Cristobal Bellolio, a political commentator based at Santiago’s University of Adolo Ibanez, said the pledges were “a step in the right direction” but added he did not know “if it’s enough”.

At least 15 people have been killed and more than 5,000 arrested in protests that started in the wake of an increase in metro fares, prompting a weekend of riots, looting of businesses and the declaration of a state of emergency by Pinera across 10 cities.

Further protests were expected on Wednesday, along with a general strike called in solidarity with the demonstrations that will include the union of top copper miner Codelco.

In an open letter to Pinera, rights group Amnesty International said it was concerned over human-rights violations and limitations imposed by the military during city-wide evening lockdowns.

“The sole fact that some groups or people have committed acts of violence in a protest does not authorize security forces to dissolve them with the use of force,” said Erika Guevara, the group’s Americas director.

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