By Hugh Bronstein
Reuters
QUITO, ECUADOR - Ecuador could settle its dispute as early as Tuesday with protesters who crippled the country's oil industry last week by dynamiting pipelines and vandalizing pumping machinery, an official mediating the talks said.
About 60 protest leaders who last week attacked state oil firm Petroecuador's operations in the Amazon region opened negotiations on Monday aimed at ending the crisis.
"Both parties are engaging constructively in the talks in order to arrive at an agreement soon, possibly tomorrow," said mediator Ramiro Gonzalez, the prefect of Pichincha province. <snip>
The protesters want the companies to increase state participation in their projects, build roads and clean up environmental damage. <snip>
http://english.epochtimes.com/news/5-8-22/31508.html