Mexican farmers leave Bridge of the Americas

The farmers who blocked the Bridge of the Americas on Monday and then spent the night on the Mexican side of the Chamizal National Memorial park left the area Tuesday and headed for Chihuahua City.

By late Tuesday morning, some of the farmers were protesting in front of the Chihuahua Governor's Palace.

The Mexican farmers and ranchers blocked the Bridge of the Americas to protest high energy prices, which they say puts them at a disadvantage in competing with U.S. products because of the impact on their production costs.

The protesters, mostly from the state of Chihuahua, said they are in crisis, adding that the Mexican government has abandoned them.

Farmers from El Barzón and the Unión Campesina Democrática and Agrodinámica Nacional organizations on Monday used their pickups, trailers, tractors and horses to block the southbound private and commercial lanes that go into Mexico.

They lifted the protest Monday near midnight after they had talked to state and federal authorities.

On Tuesday morning most of the group headed to Chihuahua City.

Lorena Figueroa may be reached at 546-6129; lfigueroa@elpasotimes; @lfigueroaept on Twitter.