
Protesters in Chile are using hoards of handheld lasers to disrupt security forces operations, in tactics resembling those used by pro-democracy supporters fighting police in Hong Kong.

On Wednesday, stunning footage emerged of activists using a collection of around 50 lasers to create a powerful beam to down a police drone in the country's capital Santiago.

Fiery clashes between police and protestors in the city's Plaza Baquedano last night were dominated by the bright beams targeting government forces attempting to bring the streets under control.

The huge civil unrest began in October with protests against a rise in rush-hour metro fares has mushroomed into a broader outcry against the status quo, with burning, looting and daily confrontations between demonstrators and police.

On Friday the Government also agreed to hold a referendum on its dictator-era constitution, first devised by General Pinochet in 1980s.

The crisis is Chile's biggest since its return to democracy in 1990, leaving 20 dead - five at the hands of state forces - and more than 1,000 injured.

Protestors were also enraged by footage that emerged of police being filmed firing pellets at protesters kneeling down with their hands up as they attempted to block a road in the capital.

Demonstrators use green lasers to target riot police officers during a protest in Santiago, Chile, against policies of Sebastian Pinera and longstanding inequality

The crisis is Chile's biggest since its return to democracy in 1990, leaving 20 dead - five at the hands of state forces - and more than 1,000 injured

Fiery clashes between police and protestors in the city's Plaza Baquedano last night were dominated by the bright beams targeting government forces attempting to bring the streets under control

The tactics in Chile resemble those used by pro-democracy supporters in Hong Kong who are battling police for control of the city's streets

A man shields himself behind a metal lid as bright beams are shone through the night sky. At least 20 people have died since the protest began over a hike in subway fares in the country's capital

Demonstrators have demanded greater social reform from the government led by President Sebastian Pinera, who has announced several measures in a bid to assuage public anger.

After weeks of sometimes violent demonstrations, most polls show the protest movement is supported by 75 percent of Chileans.

Even more - 87 per cent, according to a survey by pollster Cadem published this month - say they favor the protesters' demand for constitutional reforms.

Approved in 1980, Chile's junta-era constitution preserved some powers of the military and established an electoral system that long favored the political right-wing.

Changes in 2005 removed most remaining anti-democratic aspects of the charter, ending the appointment of non-elected senators and allowing civilian authorities to dismiss military chiefs.

'The constitution of the dictatorship has died,' progressive senator and former foreign minister Heraldo Munoz said after Friday's vote.

A few days after Pinera became president last year, his government announced it would not allow the consideration of a bill to amend the constitution that his socialist predecessor Michelle Bachelet had submitted to congress.

Demonstrators wave Wenufoye and Chilean flags as they climb the Plaza Italia monument in Santiago and point handheld green lasers at riot police during protests last night

Students in Chile began protesting nearly a month ago over a subway fare hike. The demonstrations have morphed into a massive protest movement demanding improvements in basic services and benefits, including pensions, health, and education

Chile said Friday it will hold a referendum to replace the country's dictatorship-era constitution - a key demand of protesters after nearly a month of violent civil unrest

Lawmakers in Chile's National Congress agreed early Friday to hold the vote in April 2020 after hours of intense negotiations between the governing coalition and opposition parties

Government spokeswoman Karla Rubilar hailed a 'huge agreement' that allowed diverse political forces to talk out their differences and give a 'signal of unity.' Thousands took to the streets of Santiago on Friday afternoon, however, crowding into the protest epicenter of Plaza Italia

The charter in force since 1980 and enacted by the former military junta of Augusto Pinochet has been changed numerous times. But it does not establish the state's responsibility to provide education and healthcare - two demands made by millions of Chileans who have taken to the streets

'This agreement is a first step, but it is a historic and fundamental first step to start building our new social pact, and in this the citizenry will have a leading role,' said Interior Minister Gonzalo Blumel

Chile said Friday it will hold a referendum to replace the country's dictatorship-era constitution - a key demand of protesters after nearly a month of violent civil unrest.

The announcement sent the stock market soaring over eight percent - the biggest daily rise in a decade - and sparked a recovery by the peso, which was up 3.2 per cent.

Lawmakers in Chile's National Congress agreed early Friday to hold the vote in April 2020 after hours of intense negotiations between the governing coalition and opposition parties.

Government spokeswoman Karla Rubilar hailed a 'huge agreement' that allowed diverse political forces to talk out their differences and give a 'signal of unity.'

Thousands took to the streets of Santiago on Friday afternoon, however, crowding into the protest epicenter of Plaza Italia.

The charter in force since 1980 and enacted by the former military junta of Augusto Pinochet has been changed numerous times.

But it does not establish the state's responsibility to provide education and healthcare - two demands made by millions of Chileans who have taken to the streets.

'We are happy to have reached an agreement that marks a victory against violence,' said Jacqueline van Rysselberghe, head of the Independent Democratic Union party, a pillar of Pinera's coalition

A riot police car is covered in green dots from protestor's lasers in Chile's capital city Santiago yesterday

The referendum will ask voters whether the constitution should be replaced and if so, how a new charter should be drafted, Senate President Jaime Quintana said

'This agreement is a first step, but it is a historic and fundamental first step to start building our new social pact, and in this the citizenry will have a leading role,' said Interior Minister Gonzalo Blumel.

The referendum will ask voters whether the constitution should be replaced and if so, how a new charter should be drafted, Senate President Jaime Quintana said.

'It is a political response in the most noble sense of the term, the policy that thinks of Chile, which is taking its destiny in hand and which is assuming its responsibilities,' said Quintana, from the center-left opposition.

The Santiago Stock Exchange closed up 8.1 per cent on the news, recuperating around half its losses since the beginning of the crisis.

The peso recovered from record losses earlier this week, rising 3.2 per cent to trade at 777.29 to the dollar.

'We are happy to have reached an agreement that marks a victory against violence,' said Jacqueline van Rysselberghe, head of the Independent Democratic Union party, a pillar of Pinera's coalition.

Not everyone was convinced, though.

'All the attention is on the constitution but there are more pressing things: pensions, education,' said Raul Opazo, a 39-year-old teacher.

The political agreement 'solves nothing,' said cleaner Leslie, 27. 'What about our social demands?'