50 demonstrators detained in Chile

At least 50 demonstrators were detained on Friday in Magellan, southern Chile, after 3 days of demonstrations against the 17-percent gas price rise in the region.

The arrests were made as anti-riot police clashed with demonstrators, the police reported.

Road blocks and shop closures continued on Friday in Punta Arenas, capital city of Magellan, leaving hundreds of tourists stranded.

"We keep the dialogue, we are making an effort, hopefully we will have good news," Punta Arenas Mayor Vladimiro Mimica said, regarding the government talks.

"We need a law to regulate the gas price, because we can' t have trouble every year," opposition Congress representative of the region Carolina Goic said.

President Sebastian Pinera has said the gas price rise is fair due to the deficit of the state-owned National Oil Company. But the move has been criticized by all political sides.