From 6 o'clock this morning angry SUNTRACS members have barricaded streets all over Panama City after one of their members was shot in the back and killed by a policeman yesterday in Colon.

 The police was unable to stop the protesters. Students of the University of Panama took to the streets as well, blocking the Transistmica, and again the police could do nothing.

 President Torrijos has ordered a full scale investigation into the assasination  of the union member yesterday. However, SUNTRACS wants an independent commission to investigate instead of the police investigating the police. Union leaders pointed out that two killings last year, one at the new highway to Colon and another who was working for the controversial Isla Viveros project who was also killed by a policeman, have not been investigated in a satisfactory manner.

Similarly, SUNTRACS denounces the fact that its construction workers work in projects without required safety measures being in place, which caused tens of workers to die last year. But nobody is in jail or even investigated.

The riots in Panama City are expected to continue tomorrow and probably the days thereafter. If you have news or pictures, please sign up and post them here!