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Clashes between demonstrators and security personnel occurred outside Mexico's Senate after the upper house of Congress passed landmark reforms of the government pension system.

The unrest came Tuesday night as thousands of civil servants protested the reforms after security forces surrounded the legislative building ahead of the 85-32 vote.

The legislation, which was approved last week in the Chamber of Deputies, would raise the age of retirement and set up individual accounts for pensioners in the pension system for government workers.

The bill must still be signed into law by President Felipe Calderon, who has made it a major part of his economic reform package.

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