Panama Cancels State of Emergency; Thousands March on U.S. Embassy
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PANAMA CITY — The Panamanian Legislative Assembly reinstated individual liberties Tuesday and lifted a state of emergency imposed almost three weeks ago to quell anti-government protests.
The assembly acted late Monday; the resolution took effect Tuesday.
An estimated 10,000 people marched past the U.S. Embassy on Tuesday, in a show of support for another assembly resolution, passed Monday, that labeled U.S. Ambassador Arthur Davis persona non grata .
At the same time, thousands of other Panamanians staged a counterdemonstration, honking car horns and banging pots and pans to demand that the military withdraw from politics and that corruption be investigated.
No injuries or arrests were reported for either demonstration.
The resolution against Davis, approved after the U.S. Senate voted to urge suspension of Panama’s military strongman, Gen. Manuel A. Noriega, asks the executive branch to expel Davis for “heading an internal conspiracy to overthrow the government.”
President Eric A. Delvalle did not immediately respond to the resolution. It must be approved by the executive branch before Davis can be forced to leave, an action tantamount to breaking diplomatic relations.
Several Panamanian legislators said the United States and Davis were behind weeklong anti-government protests last month that led to the emergency decree June 11 and the suspension of several constitutional rights.
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