A fire burns in Parliament Square, Westminster, London, as students demonstrate against planned tuition fee increases. Hundreds of protesters clashed with police in front of the British parliament ahead of a vote on university tuition fees which will test the strength of the coalition government. Demonstrators threw missiles and placards at police in the square in front of parliament. Photo: AP
A fire burns in Parliament Square, Westminster, London, as students demonstrate against planned tuition fee increases. Hundreds of protesters clashed with police in front of the British parliament ahead of a vote on university tuition fees which will test the strength of the coalition government. Demonstrators threw missiles and placards at police in the square in front of parliament. Photo: AP
Police officers scuffle with demonstrators, and the media, during a student protest in Westminster, central London. Hundreds of protesters clashed with police in front of the British parliament ahead of a vote on university tuition fees which will test the strength of the coalition government. Demonstrators threw missiles and placards at police in the square in front of parliament. Photo: Reuters
Demonstrators face police officers in Westminster, central London. Hundreds of protesters clashed with police in front of the British parliament ahead of a vote on university tuition fees which will test the strength of the coalition government. Demonstrators threw missiles and placards at police in the square in front of parliament. Photo: Reuters
A policeman receives treatment from a medic during a protest in Westminster, central London. Hundreds of protesters clashed with police in front of the British parliament ahead of a vote on university tuition fees which will test the strength of the coalition government. Demonstrators threw missiles and placards at police in the square in front of parliament. Photo: Reuters
Demonstrators clash with police during a protest in Westminster in central London. Hundreds of protesters clashed with police in front of the British parliament ahead of a vote on university tuition fees which will test the strength of the coalition government. Demonstrators threw missiles and placards at police in the square in front of parliament. Photo: Reuters
A police officer is helped by a medic during a protest in Westminster in central London. Hundreds of protesters clashed with police in front of the British parliament ahead of a vote on university tuition fees which will test the strength of the coalition government. Demonstrators threw missiles and placards at police in the square in front of parliament. Photo: Reuters
Demonstrators clash with police during a protest in Westminster in central London. Hundreds of protesters clashed with police in front of the British parliament ahead of a vote on university tuition fees which will test the strength of the coalition government. Demonstrators threw missiles and placards at police in the square in front of parliament. Photo: Reuters
A demonstrator clashes with a police officer during a protest in Westminster in central London. Hundreds of protesters clashed with police in front of the British parliament ahead of a vote on university tuition fees which will test the strength of the coalition government. Demonstrators threw missiles and placards at police in the square in front of parliament. Photo: Reuters
An injured demonstrator is helped by medics during a protest in Westminster, central London. Hundreds of protesters clashed with police in front of the British parliament ahead of a vote on university tuition fees which will test the strength of the coalition government. Demonstrators threw missiles and placards at police in the square in front of parliament. Photo: Reuters
Demonstrators clash with police during a protest in Westminster in central London. Hundreds of protesters clashed with police in front of the British parliament ahead of a vote on university tuition fees which will test the strength of the coalition government. Demonstrators threw missiles and placards at police in the square in front of parliament. Photo: Reuters
Police officers scuffle with demonstrators during a student protest in Westminster, central London. Hundreds of protesters clashed with police in front of the British parliament ahead of a vote on university tuition fees which will test the strength of the coalition government. Demonstrators threw missiles and placards at police in the square in front of parliament. Photo: Reuters
Police officers move a barrier during a protest in Westminster, central London. Hundreds of protesters clashed with police in front of the British parliament ahead of a vote on university tuition fees which will test the strength of the coalition government. Demonstrators threw missiles and placards at police in the square in front of parliament. Photo: Reuters
Police officers lead away an injured demonstrator during a protest in Westminster, central London. Hundreds of protesters clashed with police in front of the British parliament ahead of a vote on university tuition fees which will test the strength of the coalition government. Demonstrators threw missiles and placards at police in the square in front of parliament. Photo: Reuters
A police officer stands on a railing during a protest in Westminster, central London. Hundreds of protesters clashed with police in front of the British parliament ahead of a vote on university tuition fees which will test the strength of the coalition government. Demonstrators threw missiles and placards at police in the square in front of parliament. Photo: Reuters
A police officer is moved to receive medical treatment during a protest in Westminster, central London. Hundreds of protesters clashed with police in front of the British parliament ahead of a vote on university tuition fees which will test the strength of the coalition government. Demonstrators threw missiles and placards at police in the square in front of parliament. Photo: Reuters
Two demonstrators jump from the top of a bonfire in Parliament Square as students demonstrate in Westminster, London. Hundreds of protesters clashed with police in front of the British parliament ahead of a vote on university tuition fees which will test the strength of the coalition government. Demonstrators threw missiles and placards at police in the square in front of parliament. Photo: AP
Demonstrators clash with police during a protest in Westminster in central London. Hundreds of protesters clashed with police in front of the British parliament ahead of a vote on university tuition fees which will test the strength of the coalition government. Demonstrators threw missiles and placards at police in the square in front of parliament. Photo: Reuters
A demonstrator is carried away by medics during a protest in Westminster in central London. Hundreds of protesters clashed with police in front of the British parliament ahead of a vote on university tuition fees which will test the strength of the coalition government. Demonstrators threw missiles and placards at police in the square in front of parliament. Photo: Reuters
Demonstrators clash with the police during a protest in Westminster, central London. Hundreds of protesters clashed with police in front of the British parliament ahead of a vote on university tuition fees which will test the strength of the coalition government. Demonstrators threw missiles and placards at police in the square in front of parliament. Photo: Reuters
Published Dec 9, 2010
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Police with riot shields and batons pushed angry student protesters away from London's Parliament Square as lawmakers debated a controversial plan to triple university tuition fees in England. Thousands of students held demonstrations and sit-ins throughout the country, heaping pressure on the government to reverse course. Throwing flares, billiards balls and paint bombs, small groups of protesters tore down barricades as police attempted to reinforce a security cordon near Parliament.
Two police officers were injured - one seriously - in the fracas and two protesters were arrested for assaulting officers, police said. The tuition vote poses a crucial test for both the Conservative's governing coalition with the Liberal Democrats and the government's austerity plans to reduce Britain's budget deficit. The scuffles broke out after students marched through central London and converged on the square, waving placards and chanting "education is not for sale," capping weeks of nationwide protests to pressure lawmakers to reverse course.
