Chile has ordered the resignation of a police general following massive protests last week in which a teenager was shot dead.
Officials made the announcement Tuesday in discussing General Sergio Gajardo. The French news agency cites a government official as saying authorities demanded his resignation for failing to promptly investigate the killing of 16-year-old Manuel Gutierrez.
The teenager was shot amid protests pressing for education reform. Family members blamed police for firing the shot that killed him, a charge authorities initially denied.
The two-day protests last week were part of a national strike called by Chile's main labor union. The goal was to support students who for weeks have been protesting for education reform and an overhaul of educational funding. Strike organizers also called for tax reform and constitutional change.
Nearly 1,400 people were arrested and more than 200 people injured during the two days of at times violent demonstrations in which stores were looted, fires set, rocks thrown and buses damaged. Police responded to the demonstrations with water cannon and tear gas.
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