Chile national strike - in pictures

The strike by Chilean workers, students and citizens begins peacefully in Santiago Photograph: Ivan Alvarado/Reuters

But soon police are spraying water at demonstrators as they march towards La Moneda presidential palace Photograph: Victor R. Caivano/AP

Riot police clash with students in a side street Photograph: Reuters

Another demonstrator points a toy gun at a line of riot police Photograph: Roberto Candia/AP

Riot police stand covered with paint thrown by demonstrators Photograph: Victor R. Caivano/AP

Young demonstrators run away from police on horseback Photograph: Victor Ruiz Caballero/Reuters

Riot police forcibly detain a demonstrator Photograph: Jose Miguel Rojas/AP

Another demonstrator runs from a police vehicle firing tear gas at crowds Photograph: Reuters

An agile demonstrator jumps over a mangled fence to escape the tear gas cloud Photograph: Victor Ruiz Caballero/Reuters

A hooded demonstrator brandishes stones and a possible bottle bomb near a burning barricade Photograph: Eliseo Fernandez/Reuters

Riot police detain one protester as his companion makes to escape Photograph: Reuters

A male demonstrator is surrounded on all sides by police Photograph: Victor R. Caivano/AP