MANAGUA, May 9 (Xinhua) -- The Central American Parliament (Parlacen) Friday urged Costa Rica to block exploitation of gold near San Juan river, bordering with Nicaragua.

    The call was made in a petition submitted by Nicaraguan Parlacen Legislator Francisco Campbell, who warned that mining activities in Las Crucitas Costa Rican might pollute the river.

    "Parlacen urges Costa Rican President Oscar Arias to desist granting that concession to Industrias Infinito S.A., and subject it (for approval) to the Central American Environment and Development," said Cambell.

    The Costa Rican government authorized the exploitation of gold at Las Crucitas sector, three kms away from San Juan river, to Industrias Infinito S.A, a subsidiary of Canadian firm Vanessa Venture Ltd.

    Cambell said the mining exploitation in San Juan river infringes a resolution adopted in 2004 by Parlacen, in which Costa Rica is not represented.

    Parlacen, headquartered in Guatemala, is made up of legislators from Nicaragua, Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador, Panama and Dominican Republic.

    If the Costa Rican government does not halt the exploitation, Nicaraguan environmentalists will file a lawsuit at the Central American Justice Court (CCJ), according to Campbell.

    Some Nicaraguan environmentalist groups say the use of chemical substances in mining activities will pollute the San Juan river, the natural border between Nicaragua and Costa Rica.