Colombian president takes firm line with protestors

(Vatican Radio). Colombia's President Juan Manuel Santos is taking a firm line with farm protesters. The president says the farmers' grievances are legitimate and so are their protests, provided they remain peaceful.

Demonstrations turned violent in the Capitol Bogota, when groups of masked youths attacked riot Police, who responded with water cannon and tear gas rounds. Trouble makers tagged on to groups of protesting farmers, students, health workers and teachers.

In justifying his deployment of troops in Bogota and in key areas nationwide, President Santos stresses it is totally unacceptable that the actions of a few impact the lives of the majority. The famers have already announced that they have ceased the roadblocks, but their representatives will remain at strategic roadside checkpoints.

The farmers insist free trade agreements with the United States and the European Union have prompted a deluge of ultra-cheap goods with which they cannot compete. They are urging the Colombian Government to come up with a package which will help them stave off bankruptcy. So far the talks have not been successful.

Listen to James Blears’ full report: