A small Canadian miner Dorato Resources DRI

"Our main concern is to get our people released, especiallythis person who has a serious heart condition," said Ballon Peru o ten ranks as the world's i th-largest goldproducer. (Reporting by Dana ord and Maria Luisa Palomino; Writing byDana ord; Editing by Marguerita Choy) Stocks. (Adds context, quote) LIMA, Jan 20 (Reuters) - our employees o Minera A rodita and two people who were tra eling with them in northern Peru were held hostage or the sixth day on Tuesday, taken by protesters upset o er mining de elopment, the company said. The group, which includes two administrati e workers, two security guards, their boat captain and his helper, was seized on Thursday in the remote town o Huampani.

The company said its workers were there to in ite local leaders to a meeting to talk about mining projects. Con licts between companies and communities, which worry about the social and en ironmental impact o mining, are common in Peru, a major metals producer. they were kidnapped," said Carlos Ballon, director at Minera A rodita. A rodita has mining concessions near Peru's northern border, where it is looking or gold. A small Canadian miner, Dorato Resources (DRI. ), has the rights to buy up to 100 percent o the company's shares. Peru's mining and energy ministry has said it would send a commission to the area to discuss the community's demands, but not be ore the hostages are let go. Local leaders say the hostages will be released when a go ernment group arri es to access what they claim is the en ironmental damage done by the miner.

Indigenous groups accuse the company o engaging in exploration acti ity, which would require community consent The company says it is not exploring, just prospecting. "This company has initiated operations in our land only with the appro al o the Peru ian go ernment, which has ne er requested our opinion," Huampani leaders wrote in a letter to nati e communities in Canada, asking or their support. The o ice o Peru's ombudsman has arranged or a team o doctors to re iew the hostages' conditions. Ballon said that one o the men being held is in poor health, ha ing had triple bypass surgery a year ago. "Our main concern is to get our people released, especially this person who has a serious heart condition," said Ballon. Peru o ten ranks as the world's i th-largest gold producer.(Reporting by Dana ord and Maria Luisa Palomino; Writing by Dana ord; Editing by Marguerita Choy).

WARREN, Pa., Jan. John Catsimatidis, the Company's Chie Executi e O icer and Mr. Myron Tur itt, the Company's President and Chie Operating O icer.The call in number is: 1-866-871-4879.The con erence ID number is: 1326298. There will be a replay o this call, which will last until 7:00 PM ET, ebruary 2.The replay call in number is:1-888-266-2081.The con erence IDnumber 1326298 will ser e as the password or the replay or additional in ormation contact:James E.