Teachers riot in Mexico

Protests in the capital of Mexico's south-western Guerrero state, Chilpancingo, turned violent on Wednesday when dozens of teachers armed with sticks, pipes and stones attacked four party political office buildings.

Masked protesters broke into the state headquarters of the ruling Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI), setting fire to the building and tossing chairs, papers and plants out of the windows.

Several spray-painted anti-government graffiti on the walls and tore down pictures of Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto.

The local headquarters of the National Action Party (PAN), the Democratic Revolution Party (PRD) and the Citizen Movement were also attacked, with protesters destroying windows, doors, computers and furniture.

Local television also broadcast footage of small fires and extensive damage inside the state education department's audit office.

No injuries were reported.

Protesting government reforms

Teachers have held numerous protests across the country in recent weeks, triggered by President Pena Nieto's opposition-backed overhaul of Mexico's education system.

Under a new law, passed by the federal Congress in December, teachers will be required to pass periodic tests to get jobs and promotions. The law also seeks to remove control over recruitment and dismals from the teachers' union, the CETEG.

Wednesday's protests came a day after the Guerrero state legislature approved a similar education law in spite of teacher's demands for alterations.

Minervino Moran, a spokesman for the CETEG teachers' union, said the attacks were "a reaction to the aggressive policies that are being imposed by the reforms." He said protesters took action against the parties that had voted against the protesters' demands.

"We as leaders and as a movement endorse these actions because there is a lot of anger, a lot of outrage with the decision the [state] congress made," Moran said.

He added that the demonstrations "could escalate, but it is up to the government and the legislature to find a solution."

In a tweet Guerrero state Governor Angel Aguirre said prosecutors had issued arrest warrants for Moran and another union leader because they were the "masterminds of the acts of vandalism."

ccp/ipj (AFP, AP)