VICTORIAVILLE, Que. - A protester suffered life-threatening injuries in Friday's violent standoff with police outside a Quebec Liberal Party convention in Victoriaville.

A local health official says the young man was one of three protesters who suffered major injuries during the riot in the small city northeast of Montreal.

Josee Simoneau says two men suffered serious injuries to the head while a woman was hit in the face.

In all, nine people were taken to hospital, including three police officers.

Quebec provincial police have made 109 arrests -- many of them after pulling over school buses that were returning late Friday to Montreal.

The Liberals moved their convention to Victoriaville from Montreal to try to get away from the protests rocking Quebec.

The government and students have yet to reach a compromise on the province's proposed tuition increases.

However there are new signs the two sides could come to a resolution at negotiations currently underway in Quebec City.