Article: CAFTA protests

Foes of free-trade pact clog streets, thwart vote

GUATEMALA CITY - (AP) -- Authorities said late Tuesday they were prepared to send troops into the streets of the Guatemalan capital, after almost 1,000 protesters prevented lawmakers from voting on a pending free-trade agreement between Central America and the United States.

Demonstrators blocked the legislature for hours, delaying a session during which some lawmakers wanted to put the free-trade pact to a vote.

Col. Wilfred Estrada, a spokesman for the army, said he received an order from the security detail in charge of protecting the president to ready 500 soldiers and military police who would be deployed if a new round of protests erupted today or Thursday.

Interior Secretary Carlos Vielmann said the country's national police force was in charge of responding to protesters, but said that ''should they falter . . . they would have some small support from'' military forces.

No one was hurt or arrested during Tuesday's protests, but legislators unable to make it to their offices were forced to spend most of the day in auxiliary buildings nearby.

''There aren't enough lawmakers for quorum and when some who want to enter the building get close, they aren't allowed to,'' said Mariano Rayo, a congressman who got to the legislature early but then was prevented from leaving.

Other lawmakers wanting to leave the building successfully made it to the street, only to be chased for blocks by protesters. Demonstrators eventually dispersed, allowing the legislative session to begin. Lawmakers quickly passed a resolution pledging to compensate those who could be hurt by the ratification of the free-trade agreement.

Protesters had promised more protests but it was unclear whether the proposal approved late Tuesday -- and the plan to deploy troops -- would alter those plans.