Rubio tells Panama to reduce Chinese influence in canal area or face US action

Secretary of state's visit to Central American state greeted with protests at Trump's demand to take back the waterway

The US secretary of state, Marco Rubio, has held talks in Panama with its president, Jose Raul Mulino, as protesters marched in opposition to Donald Trump's demand for ownership of the Panama canal to be returned to the US.

The US's top diplomat told Mulino in the talks that the US president has determined China's influence threatens the Panama canal and that immediate changes were needed or the US would act.