panama city, panama —
The Panamanian government and protesters opened a fresh round of negotiations Thursday to try to end more than two weeks of cost-of-living protests that have interrupted food supplies and harmed the economy.
Protesters demanding lower fuel, food and medicine prices have blockaded the crucial Pan-American Highway and other major roads with stalled trucks and burning tires, and some have clashed with police.
“I have absolutely no doubt that through a sincere and respectful dialogue, we can reach viable solutions,” President Laurentino Cortizo said as the talks got under way in Penonome, a few hours southwest of Panama City.
On Sunday, the government and some protest leaders announced a deal to end the crippling expression of anger in the country of 4.4 million people.
But roadblocks and marches resumed this week, as other groups rejected the deal, saying they had not been consulted — leading the…
