Tear gas fired to disperse protesters

Tear gas fired to disperse protesters

EAST TIMOR: East Timorese security forces on Tuesday fired tear gas to disperse about 500 high school students protesting the arrest of one of their peers, witnesses said.

The protesters threw rocks at police and soldiers and set two motorcycles on fire in a soccer field near Dili's parliament building. Police and soldiers fired off several rounds of tear gas to disperse them.

There were no reports of injuries.

Witnesses said police arrested at least two of the demonstrators.

Protesters said they wanted to see legislators to complain about the arrest of a student from a school in the capital, Dili, earlier Tuesday. They said the boy was suspected of gang violence.

Police were not immediately available for comment. -- AP