Shotguns, Tear Gas Break Up Protest by Panama Students
About 600 university students protesting alleged police brutality battled with riot police for hours here Tuesday. Officers fired shotguns and tear gas to disperse them.
Witnesses said an undetermined number of demonstrators were injured and that at least five vehicles were damaged by rock-throwing students.
Police reports mentioned no arrests or people hurt.
The students began demonstrating earlier in the day to protest the government’s failure to investigate charges of police brutality that allegedly occurred earlier this month during protests demanding the ouster of Gen. Manuel A. Noriega, the nation’s strongman.
Meanwhile, the National Civic Crusade, a loose coalition of major opposition groups, called for a nationwide 48-hour strike beginning on Monday.
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