The general in charge of security in Santiago has declared a curfew in the capital and its suburbs, after President Sebastian Pinera tried to de-escalate flaming tensions, promising to scrap a controversial metro ride price hike.

“We invite all people to return to their homes to evaluate the measures the government has announced and look after their families and their homes,” General Javier Iturriaga del Campo said, announcing a mandatory curfew between 10pm and 7am on Saturday night.

Three people have been killed in the riots, AFP reported, citing officials.

The president had earlier stopped short of calling a curfew – but, in order to defuse tensions, promised that his government will reverse the contentious price hikes for metro rides introduced in early October.

Santiago is under a state of emergency since Friday night, when crowds of protesters clashed with riot police, set fires, looted and destroyed public infrastructure in the capital – and the violence risked spilling over to other Chilean cities.

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