Oil talks being held in Ecuador

Protest leaders from two oil-rich Amazon provinces where violent demonstrations brought petroleum production to a halt last week have started negotiations in Ecuador’s capital Quito with President Alfredo Palacio’s government.

A delegation of 50 protest leaders, including a number of mayors and regional governors from Orellana and Sucumbios provinces, arrived to discuss their demands that oil companies provide more jobs to local residents and make income tax and royalty payments directly to local authorities.