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Panama students battle police in 2nd day of riots
24 May 2005 21:31:58 GMT
Source: Reuters
PANAMA CITY, May 24 (Reuters) - Panamanian high school students threw rocks at riot police on Tuesday in the second day of protests against pension reforms at the heart of government plans to rein in public spending.

Some 3,000 pupils battled police in the capital's commercial district, where roads were closed, witnesses said. Construction workers dropped glass sheets and bricks from a building site onto armed police below. Police fired tear gas back at the workers.

Hundreds of students fought with police and hurled rocks at Panama's National Assembly on Monday.

The protests have been sparked by government plans to increase the retirement age and raise the number of years workers must contribute to pensions.

The reforms are seen as vital for Panama to reduce its fiscal deficit, improve its credit rating and allow President Martin Torrijos to push ahead with an ambitious plan to expand the interoceanic Panama Canal.

The planned reforms are likely to become law because Torrijos' ruling Democratic Revolutionary Party holds 46 seats of 78 in the national assembly.

More demonstrations, involving a wider number of groups including teachers, were planned for Wednesday.

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Tue May 24 21:34:15 2005