Panama Indians seek release of detained protesters (AP)

PANAMA CITY ? Indigenous groups in Panama are demanding the release of anti-mining protesters detained when police used tear gas to clear blockades of the Pan-American highway.

The Coalition of Indigenous Peoples and Farmworkers is also demanding police withdraw from an Indian enclave after Sunday's clashes, which left a protester dead, 40 people injured and 44 people arrested.

Coalition leader Liborio Miranda said Monday the demands are a prerequisite for opening talks with the government.

Sympathy protests blocked highways in other parts of the country Monday.

The blockades were set up by members of the Ngobe-Bugle tribe who fear mining projects and dams will affect watersheds on their land in western Panama.

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/latam/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20120207/ap_on_re_la_am_ca/lt_panama_indian_blockade

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