Thousands protest planned Canadian mine in Romania

Thousands marched through Bucharest to protest a controversial plan by a Canadian company to build Europe's biggest gold mine in Romania, AP reported. Protesters on Sunday criticized the use of cyanide in the extraction process and accused authorities of trying to sell off Romania's assets too cheaply. The mine has drawn widespread protests in recent weeks. Supporters say the mine would bring jobs and investment to a deprived area. Last week, Prime Minister Victor Ponta predicted Parliament would reject plans for the Canadian-run mine, sending shares in the company, Gabriel Resources, plummeting by around 50 percent. Ponta went down Sunday into the Rosia Montana mine where 33 miners had been striking this week and persuaded them to end their protest, promising he would send a parliamentary committee to the area.