Venezuelan students protest university law

[Bacchus39]

CARACAS, Venezuela – Police and soldiers fired water cannons and plastic bullets Thursday as thousands of students protested against a law passed by Venezuela's congress that increases government powers over the country's universities.

At least three people were injured, including a news photographer who was treated for a cut to the head after being hit with an object.

Dozens of police and National Guard troops in anti-riot gear blocked student protesters outside the Central University of Venezuela in Caracas, firing plastic bullets into the air.

The law governing universities was approved by the National Assembly early Thursday, and students denounced it as an attempt by President Hugo Chavez to clamp down on autonomous state universities that have been a bastion of opposition to his government.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20101223/ap_on_re_la_am_ca/lt_venezuela_chavez