Argentine farmers return to barricades

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Farmers lined up tractors across rural roads nationwide in the latest salvo in a bitter three-month standoff with President Cristina Fernandez that has at times emptied supermarket shelves and raised the specter of recession in one of the world's top soy and corn exporters.

Protest leaders said in a statement that, at least through Wednesday, striking farmers will suspend grain exports and prevent trucks carrying most agricultural products from passing on national highways. Some perishable goods, such as milk, are to be allowed.

News footage showed rows of tractors blocking roads and farmers huddling around fires, bracing against the South American winter winds blowing across the open pampas. The farmers have suspended their protests then returned to the blockades several times as talks have stumbled.

The farmers' statement also denounced the brief arrest Saturday of 19 protesters at a blockade near the city of Gualeguaychu -- including prominent farm leader Alfredo de Angeli -- as a "provocation and repression."

Fernandez's center-left government defended the arrests, saying police were carrying out a judge's order to clear the road.

"These blockades take food away from Argentines," Cabinet chief Alberto Fernandez said late Saturday.

The agricultural crisis was touched off in March when the government raised export taxes on grains more than 10 percent. Cristina Fernandez says growers have benefited from rising world prices and the profits should be spread around to help the poor.

Farmers counter that they need to reinvest the profits and the higher taxes make it difficult for them to make a living.

De Angeli, the farm leader, vowed Sunday that the demonstrations will continue as long as necessary.

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