Colombia braced for nationwide protests

Colombia's largest cities were braced on Thursday for marches by students and labour unions in support of a growing nationwide strike by miners, truckers, coffee growers, milk producers and potato farmers.

The unions are marching against everything from high fuel prices to free trade agreements that farmers say have them on the brink of bankruptcy.

The protests began on 19 August, and at least one protester and one policeman have died in the demonstrations, dozens have been injured and more than 150 have been arrested.

Source: The Guardian