Thousands Join Argentine Farm Protests

Large, pot-banging protests rang through Argentine cities for the first time in years after the president rejected negotiations with farmers and ranchers over increased export taxes on agricultural goods.

Fernandez refused Tuesday to ease tax hikes on agricultural exports, facing down angry farmers embroiled in a nationwide strike that has all but halted production in one of the world's biggest beef-eating and beef-exporting nations.

The president's hard-line address on national television unexpectedly mobilized thousands of middle class Argentines against the government and in support of the farmers.

And provincial cities across Argentina's farmbelt waged similar pot-banging protests called "cacerolazos" - Spanish for the kinds of demonstrations used to bring down ill-fated former leaders during a 2001-2002 economic meltdown.