Montreal students protest cuts in downtown march

More than 1,000 peoplemarched through downtown Montreal on Friday night in the latest demonstration against the Quebec government's cutbacks.

Protesters also chanted slogans denouncing oil companies.

The protest was organized by a group atCgepduVieux-Montral, where many students were boycotting class this week.

Police originally said the march would be allowed to proceed, but laterdeclared it illegal, saying the protestroute wasn't provided beforehand.

Officers were seen using pepper spray and tear gas as they ordered protesters to disperse.At least one person was arrested.

By about 10:30 p.m. most of the protesters had been cleared out of downtown, police said.

The march was part oftwoweeks of planned strikes and demonstrations, beginning last Monday, against what the studentsdescribe as the province's heavy-handedausterity measures.