New strike by Argentine farmers

Argentina is one of the world's top exporters of wheat, soya and beef.

A focus of the farmers' anger is an increase in the export tax on soya, which earned $13bn (£6.6bn) in 2007.

On Saturday, Argentine riot police broke up a road blockade by protesting truckers and farmers on a main road near the border with Uruguay.

Riot police moved in to clear Route 14, a major road link with Brazil.

Nearly 20 protesters were temporarily detained, among them the leader of the local farmers' association, Alfredo de Angeli.

Other highways are still being blocked by angry truckers whose livelihood has been damaged by the ongoing tax dispute.

A three-month standoff between the Argentine government and farmers over export taxes turned violent Saturday.

Military police scuffled with farmers as they tried to remove them from a road that protesters had blocked with their trucks.

Protesters responded by throwing rocks at police and burning large truck tires in the road. Thick clouds of black smoke could be seen for miles.

Scenes of baton-wielding police in riot gear carrying struggling protesters away in trucks were broadcast live around the country.

The clashes took place in the farming community of Gualeguaychu, a stronghold for the protesters, about 124 miles (200 kilometers) north of Buenos Aires.

"It's embarrassing and shameful what this government is doing to us," one protester said. "They need to sit down again with us so we can have dialogue, not violence."