DHAKA: Student protesters in Myanmar have clashed with riot police in Letpadan, 140km (90 miles) north of Yangon.

Several hundred students began trying to break through police lines which prevented them continuing a march south.

Police are reported to have hit the students with batons and detained some, reports the BBC.

The students say they want changes to be made to a new bill which they say centralizes control over higher education.

Tensions have been rising in Letpadan since last week, after police gave them a deadline to disperse.

But there had been reports of negotiations between the two sides, and earlier on Tuesday a breakthrough agreement was announced, granting the students permission to continue on their journey to their final destination - Yangon, Myanmar’s biggest city and former capital.

Myanmar’s Irrawaddy newspaper reported that despite this deal, conflict broke out when authorities refused to allow student flags to be hoisted.

BDST: 1634 HRS, MAR 10, 2015