On Tuesday President Ricardo Martinelli said the government had "formally committed to not promoting, encouraging or approving any specific mining concession at Cerro Colorado" or other indigenous areas.

But the activists said they would hold demonstrations in the coming days demanding the repeal of the amendment and a referendum to settle the dispute.

"The people here want the repeal of the law that reformed the mining code... not a decree," said Pedro Rodriguez, head of the Ngobe-Bugle indigenous area.

Indigenous Panamanians armed with spears, sticks and stones temporarily blocked a bridge on the outskirts of the capital earlier this month and clashed with riot police over the recent changes to the law.

The groups have complained that the reformed law -- untouched since the 1960s -- would spoil pristine rainforests and force Indian communities to relocate.

Martinelli and his supporters in the national assembly argue that mining could be Panama's second largest source of income after fees from the Panama Canal, and the recent changes were aimed at attracting foreign investment.

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