Thousands of Peruvians and Colombians marched through the streets of their capitals on Thursday to block a US-Andean free-trade pact they say will wreck their farms and cost them jobs, as negotiators said nearly 90 percent of the deal was done.
Some 2,000 Peruvians, including farmers and doctors, turned out in central Lima, many dressed as Uncle Sam with huge hats covered in blue and white stars, burning effigies of politicians and chanting: "Imperialism, die!"
Others held up red signs proclaiming "Free trade, NO!" and "Fair Trade not Free Trade", while cotton farmers blocked the southern Peruvian PanAmerican highway, causing traffic jams.
At least 1,000 people marched in the Colombian capital, Bogota, and local television said more than 6,000 union workers and farmers had converged on the Caribbean city of Cartagena, where the latest round of talks ends on Friday.
Colombia and Peru say they hope to sign a deal they see as a huge boost for their export-led economies as early as October or November but negotiators acknowledge tough issues remain. Washington says early 2006 is a more likely time frame.
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