News In Brief

Conflict looms as Chile renews state of emergency

Military authorities arrested 12 leftists Saturday in their first action under a renewed state of emergency, and opposition leaders warned the crackdown would provoke confrontation with the military government.

The state of emergency, effective at midnight Friday, was declared after opposition leaders seeking to end 10 years of military rule called on Chileans to stage a mass protest Tuesday by banging on pots and pans in their homes.

Reimposition of the state of emergency gives the government power to set a curfew and to restrict freedom of speech and assembly, although these last two are already curtailed by powers it never abandoned.