Prince Charles' car attacked

Prince Charles and Camilla react as their car is attacked in London. -- PHOTO: AP

LONDON - RIOTERS battled police outside parliament and attacked a car carrying the heir to the throne Prince Charles on Thursday as Britain's coalition survived a major test in a vote to raise university fees.

Dozens of officers and demonstrators were wounded as a student protest in the heart of London turned violent during the government's narrow victory in a vote in parliament.

Prince Charles and his wife Camilla were caught up in the protests when their car was attacked and daubed with paint as they travelled to a theatre, although the couple escaped unharmed.

The government suffered its first resignations over policy and the plans to raise fees exposed the deep strains within the seven-month-old coalition.

The government's majority was cut by three-quarters as lawmakers voted by 323 to 302 to raise the cap on annual tuition fees at English universities from 2012.

The basic level of fees will now climb to 6,000 pounds (S$12,405), with an upper limit of 9,000 pounds.

The current cap is 3,290 pounds. -- AFP