Police, Students Clash in Spain

Riot police firing rubber bullets, tear gas and water cannons clashed today with hundreds of rock-hurling students protesting plans to raise college fees and stiffen admissions procedures. Twenty-five people were injured, including a 15-year-old girl hit by police gunfire.

Two officers were caught in a hail of rocks and carried off on stretchers as the students battled in downtown streets, sending passers-by fleeing for safety. The violence broke out as about 150,000 students staged a two-mile march to protest the socialist government’s education policies. The main body of the students demonstrated peacefully but trouble erupted when about 300 broke away and fought running battles with police. Police said at least four students were arrested.