Panama Classes Resume, But Students Expelled
The University of Panama resumed routine after reaching agreement with students protesting the Bush visit and fuel price hike, but the crisis again worsened with announcement of expulsion of 12 students.

Last week´s simultaneous protests UP and National Institute students were violent confrontations with students responding to riot police tear gas and rubber bullets with stones, sticks and homemade bombs, leading to arbitrary arrests.

The arrests were denounced by the MJP (Popular Youth Movement), Fer-29 Transforming Thought and Action, and BPU (University Popular Bloc).

Enraged by the jailing of some colleagues, several youth began a more violent protest and briefly blocked the important Transistmica Highway, prompting Dean Gustavo Garcia de Paredes to close the university and begin the talks that ended with some agreement to end the violence.

Leaders from the MJP and BPU told media that they are willing to accept the agreements as long as the government restricts repression.

But Education Minister Miguel Angel Canizalez announced the expulsion of 12 Fer-29 students from the National Institute, a decision UP and NI students say they will appeal and protest.