Presidential apology and reform pledge fail to quell Chile protests

• Thousands take to streets of Santiago for sixth day running
• Pinera scraps fare hike and raises pensions and minimum wage

Tens of thousands of protesters have flooded Chile's capital, setting up flaming barricades and clashing with riot police after an apology and promises of economic reforms from President Sebastiin Pinera failed to quell unrest and rioting has led to at least 18 deaths.

Trade unionists in the world's top copper-producing country joined demonstrators with a general strike in a movement that started with anger at a small rise in subway fares, but expanded into protests against inequality and to demand improvements in education, healthcare and wages in one of Latin America's wealthiest, but most unequal nations.