Police use tear gas to disperse highway-blocking protestors

The National Police Crowd Control Unit fired tear gas on Thursday afternoon to disperse protesters who had closed the four lanes of the Transístmica highway for four hours since noon. Members of the Union of Workers of the University of Panama, of Frenadeso, Suntracs, and Conusi carried out the demonstration in rejection of the constant increases in the basic food basket and the price of fuel.

 People ran and took refuge in the University of Panama (UP)From the parking lot, a group of university students threw stones at the police officers. The Transístmica, which was closed for about four hours, was fully reopened at around 4:50 p.m.

The UP announced the suspension of evening and night classes.