Boy killed in riot against privatization of Panama duty-free zone

A 9-year-old boy was killed Friday in a riot against a law to privatize Panama's duty-free zone of Colon. Protests in Colon, 80 km north of the capital, turned into riot as Panamanian President Ricardo Martinelli signed the bill into law earlier Friday. The child was shot and died from wounds, according to the police. At least 10 people were injured in the riot, including five police officers. In the riot, at least three stores and two gas stations were looted and damaged. The authorities had to slap a curfew in Colon as from Friday to maintain order. Established in 1948, the duty-free zone of Colon houses more than 3,000 corporations, offering more than 30,000 jobs in the region.