MEXICO CITY (AP) -- Dozens of students were in police custody
                  Wednesday after students clashed over a 9-month-old strike at Latin
                  America's largest university.

                  Students angry with schoolmates who have been occupying the main campus
                  at National Autonomous University of Mexico to protest tuition hikes threw
                  rocks and bottles at their activist classmates Tuesday.

                  One person was killed and 37 others injured in clashes between the two
                  groups at Justo Sierra high school, which is part of the university campus.

                  Most of the 251 people arrested were detained on suspicion of disturbing
                  the peace and riotous behavior. Three students are accused of having
                  firebombs and other explosives.

                  "This has been a day of profound sadness for the university," said Rector
                  Juan Ramon de la Fuente. "Violence is the antithesis of the university."

                  The skirmish began early Tuesday when 200 students opposed to the strike
                  forced their way onto the campus of the high school. Tossing rocks and
                  waving sticks, they forced the strikers to abandon the high school, which
                  they have held and barricaded since April 20.

                  Soon after, 150 people identified by de la Fuente as members of the
                  university's security force arrived to help the anti-strikers defend the campus.

                  But by late afternoon, more strikers arrived and they were able to retake the
                  campus.

                  One man was died from stab wounds to the chest, said ambulance driver
                  Antonio Ramirez. At least four others suffered skull fractures.

                  Three striking students were arrested outside the school and charged with
                  possession of gasoline bombs.

                  Four hundred federal police officers took control of the school late Tuesday.
                  They rounded up the strikers without resistance and took 148 of them to jail.

                  Interior Secretary Diodoro Carrasco said the university had requested the
                  police intervention, despite statutes that bar police from entering university
                  grounds to preserve academic freedom.

                   Copyright 2000 The Associated Press.