Gamiaw WorldNews: Mexico, radical teachers to hold talks after deadly clashes

People carry the coffins three of the people that died yesterday during the clearing of the highway, to Nochixtlan's main plaza, in Oaxaca state, Mexico, Monday, June 20, 2016. Violence erupted during the weekend in which six people died in confrontations between the police and striking teachers. The teachers are protesting against plans to overhaul the country's education system which include federally mandated teacher evaluations. (AP Photo/Eduardo Verdugo) via Associated Press

NOCHIXTLAN — The Mexican government and representatives of a dissident teachers' union agreed yesterday to hold talks after weekend clashes in which eight people were killed and more than 100 were injured.

The meeting is planned for Wednesday in Mexico City and will be led by Interior Secretary Miguel Angel Osorio Chong.

The Interior Department said in a statement that the talks will seek to find solutions that allow for a return to peace in regions that have seen turbulent protests recently.

Radical teachers unions are vehemently opposed to education reforms that include subjecting teachers to evaluations, and have led demonstrations in several states and the Mexican capital.
Officials said the reform itself will not be up for negotiation in Wednesday's talks.

The deadly clashes between police and protesters took place Sunday at a highway blockade in the town of Nochixtlan, in the southern state of Oaxaca.

Unionized teachers and radical groups in neighboring Guerrero and Chiapas states have also held demonstrations and blocked roads in recent days.

The most recent round of protests was set off by the arrest of some union leaders on charges including corruption.