Honduras Police Violently Clash with Student Protesters

Police officers reportedly clashed with students from the National Autonomous University of Honduras, UNAH, in the capital Tegucigalpa Wednesday afternoon, as they protested against a recent change of academic rules.

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As the students blocked a road leading to the campus, authorities dispatched a special police unit at about 3 p.m. They charged at the students with an armored car and tear gas. Some students reportedly responded by throwing rocks.

No one was injured or arrested during the confrontation, according to local media, although the details of the incident have not yet been confirmed by official sources.

Students launched a national mobilization, as they are now required to obtain a minimum grade of 70-percent in order to pass their courses, instead of the previous 60 percent requirement. The measure has sparked protests in various universities across the country over the past days.

In the UNAH affiliate, located in the northern city of San Pedro Sula, the country's second-biggest city, students stated that about 1,500 students will not be able to pass the year because of the modification to the rules.