Argentine ports shut down, roads blocked by 24-hour general strike

A 24-HOUR general strike shut down Argentine transport including ports, airports, trains and road use earlier this week, reports Inchcape Shipping Services (ISS).

"This is the first strike affecting the whole country and its transport infrastructure for more than a decade," said Inchcape's Buenos Aires-based Americas operations manager Francisco Villagran.

Demonstrators burned tyres to block roads and vandalised a handful of the businesses that opened despite the 24-hour work stoppage called by bus drivers, train conductors and port, airline and bank workers, reported Reuters. They rallied in places including Plaza de Mayo in front of the presidential palace in Buenos Aires.

The general strike follows broad protests held on November 8 over high crime, soaring inflation and the government's policy response.

The Inchcape shipping agency said ships remained at anchorage or at berth, unable to accomplish anything as even immigration, customs, health and agriculture personnel were on strike as were port administration employees.