PANAMA CITY — Panama's government says it will cancel plans to sell state-owned land in a duty-free zone on the Panama Canal following a week of sometimes violent protests in which a 10-year-old boy and two adults died.

Though the land in question is in the port city of Colon, protests have spread to Panama City.

Construction workers have blocked roadways in Panama City and staged marches in sympathy with the protests in Colon.

The chief of staff for President Ricardo Martinelli says the government will repeal a law passed a week ago that allowed the government to sell land it currently leases to companies in the duty-free zone.

Presidential chief of staff Roberto Henriquez said Friday that Martinelli's cabinet will meet Sunday and "the law will be repealed."