Panama Hosts New Military Maneuvers
With the presence of the US and other nations, Panama is holding Friday the controversial military exercises Panamax 2006, whose last edition left three soldiers dead.

Several warships, especially from the US, began deploying Thursday to take part in the maneuvers ending September 1.

Nearly 3,000 soldiers from Chile, Argentina, Peru, Ecuador, El Salvador, Honduras and Colombia, among other nations, are participating in the training, which will be held in the Panama Canal, the Pacific and Atlantic oceans to fight an ostensible terrorist attack.

In 2005, these military drills took a lot of flak following the death of First Sergeant Luis Perez Becerra, and marines Omar Durango and Jackson Angulo, who sank while executing an amphibious landing operation.

During its stay in the Central American country, the US command will realize join training exercises with members of local Institutional Protection Service and the National Police.

Analysts estimate the Pentagon is trying to re-occupy part of the Panamanian territory with military bases.