Chile students on hunger strike to improve schools

Spokeswoman Laura Ortiz says the hunger strike began at the start of the week with eight participants and has grown to 20. She says more are expected to join.

Students say the action was begun to express frustration at what they call President Sebastian Pinera's failure to respond to weeks of student protests and school occupations. The protesters want more funding for education, a free transportation pass for students and greater state control of education.

Government spokesman Andres Chadwick says strikers can be assured that, in his words, "the government is fully dedicated to improving the quality of our education."