Chile's president declared a state of emergency in the capital Santiago on Friday night and gave the military responsibility for security after a day of violent protests over increases in the price of metro tickets, Aljazeera reports.
"I have declared a state of emergency and, to that end, I have appointed Major General Javier Iturriaga del Campo as head of national defence, in accordance with the provisions of our state of emergency legislation," President Sebastian Pinera said.
Enel Chile, a subsidiary of Italian utility Enel, said vandals had set fire to the company's high-rise corporate headquarters in the city centre.
Local television footage showed flames climbing up the side of the building as fire crews struggled to break through growing crowds of protesters.
"In the coming days, our government will call for a dialogue ... to alleviate the suffering of those affected by the increase in fares," Pinera said in the broadcast address.