Hundreds of federal police cleared protesting teachers from the main highway between Mexico City and Acapulco after the demonstrators blocked the roadway for hours, causing a huge traffic backup.
The teachers were protesting against an educational reform that will submit them to evaluation and loosen union control over hiring and firing.
Teachers had blocked the four-lane highway at least twice before, starting in March.
Helmeted police with shields pushed into the crowd of teachers, who fought back with pointed staves.
Police responded with tear gas. Deputy Interior Secretary Manuel Mondragon told local media that four police officers had been injured, none seriously, and said several people had been arrested.
In a statement, the federal police said they had not used any firearms during the raid. They said protesters had used sticks, stones and gasoline bombs.
The government of Guerrero state, where Acapulco is located, said in a statement that traffic was flowing freely on the highway by late Friday.
Governor Angel Aguirre had previously held talks with the protesters, and asked them to stop blocking highways because of the damage it was doing to the tourist resort.
The teachers were protesting against an educational reform that will submit them to evaluation and loosen union control over hiring and firing.
Teachers had blocked the four-lane highway at least twice before, starting in March.
Helmeted police with shields pushed into the crowd of teachers, who fought back with pointed staves.
Police responded with tear gas. Deputy Interior Secretary Manuel Mondragon told local media that four police officers had been injured, none seriously, and said several people had been arrested.
In a statement, the federal police said they had not used any firearms during the raid. They said protesters had used sticks, stones and gasoline bombs.
The government of Guerrero state, where Acapulco is located, said in a statement that traffic was flowing freely on the highway by late Friday.
Governor Angel Aguirre had previously held talks with the protesters, and asked them to stop blocking highways because of the damage it was doing to the tourist resort.
Source: TV3
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