* For up-to-the-minute market news, click on [STXNEWS/EU]
By Brian Gorman
LONDON, March 23 (Reuters) - European shares edged higher on Wednesday, led by miners as the price of copper and other metals rose on upbeat comments on the demand outlook from senior executives in the industry.
But some investors remained cautious ahead of a key parliamentary vote on austerity measures in Portugal that could see the country's government brought down, and others were focused on the continued political uncertainties in the Middle East and North Africa. [ID:nLDE72M00L]
At 1033 GMT the FTSEurofirst 300 .FTEU3 index of top European shares was up 0.3 percent at 1,110.34 points, after falling 0.1 percent in the previous session.
Copper prices rose in London and Shanghai on Wednesday after bullish comments from mining executives on the metal's outlook. [ID:nL3E7EN0GI].
Heavyweight miners to rise included Anglo American (AAL.L), BHP Billiton (BLT.L) and Rio Tinto (RIO.L), up between 1.9 and 2.1 percent.
The euro zone's sovereign debt crisis continued to worry some investors, although some analysts see geopolitical concerns as the more pressing issue.
Despite Wednesday's rise the pan-European index is still down more than 6 percent from its 29-month peak of mid-February
"Markets can regain the highs," said Bernard McAlinden, investment strategist at NCB Stockbrokers in Dublin.
"Oil price is the more persistent worry, with tensions in North Africa," he said.
