Curfew ordered to curb protests in Santiago

The Chilean government ordered a curfew and sent riot police into downtown Santiago to prevent a new wave of mass protests. The military said the measure was taken in response to leaflets circulating in the city ''giving instructions for undertaking acts of vandalism.''

Chileans are demanding an end to 10 years of military rule under President Augusto Pinochet Ugarte. The recent arrest of three opposition politicians - former Foreign Minister Gabriel Valdes and two other Christian Democrats - had increased antigovernment feeling.