Colombian Strikers Rally in Capital

BOGOTA, Colombia —  Tens of thousands of workers marched through this capital Wednesday, the eighth day of a strike to protest the government’s planned austerity measures.

About 200,000 people thronged the streets of Bogota to demand higher wages and more government spending. They dispersed shortly before nightfall.

Also Wednesday, President Andres Pastrana--who has made peace talks with leftist guerrillas his top priority--ordered all government troops to start pulling out of a huge swath of southeast Colombia.

Pastrana’s decision, aimed at jump-starting the talks, requires about 4,000 soldiers to withdraw by Nov. 7. Pastrana said the demilitarization would remain in place until Feb. 7.

Meanwhile, union leaders mulled their next move in the bitter public-sector strike after Pastrana refused to negotiate.

The union leaders, representing 700,000 state employees, met late Wednesday to discuss ways of expanding the strike.

The stoppage and related slowdowns have canceled classes, shut down courts, limited hospitals to emergency services and caused extensive delays at some airports.

The strikers are protesting measures to cut public-sector spending and curtail wage increases.