Protests in El Salvador against free trade

Demonstrators from various social organizations protested against "unfair trade" and against CAFTA in San Salvador on Thursday and Friday. Some 2000 marchers were met by riot police on Thursday as they approached the presidential palace. A confrontation ensued with police using rubber bullets and pepper gas. Eight people were injured including two journalists.

Coverage of the protests and the police action varied predictably with the political leanings of the newspaper. Diario Colatino focused on the wide range of groups represented in the protests and their goals to have a world where human dignity is respected. Meanwhile, La Prensa Grafica illustrated the story with a photo of a protester throwing a broken piece of glass at police and headlined the government assertion that the FMLN was behind the demonstrations.