Thousands of jobless workers have blocked roads across Argentina in protest at the government's failure to pull the nation out of economic crisis.
Protestors were demonstrating over the 20 per cent unemployment rate and is the second time this week against President Eduardo Duhalde, who is trying to obtain an aid package from the International Monetary Fund to end a four-year-old economic crisis worst in Argentine history.
Workers beat drums at key intersections and blocked streets in Buenos Aires. The demonstration was organised by the Argentine Workers' Congress.
The IMF shut off billions of dollars in credits to Argentina last December as the country plunged into a deep crisis that saw the presidency change hands five times in two weeks.
The additional desperately needed aid is contingent on Duhalde's ability to push through a reforms.
One of every five Argentines is jobless, the country has declared default on its massive $141 billion public debt and the central bank has been powerless to stop a massive drop in the peso's value against the US dollar. The economy is expected to contract by more than 10 per cent this year.
In an effort to calm militant unions, Duhalde today extended a ban on company layoffs for another six months.
Duhalde warned this week that "time is running out" to solve the crisis and urged Argentines to rally behind economic recovery plans.
At least 28 people were killed in the last spasm of unrest in December when street riots and supermarket looting toppled Duhalde's predecessor, Mr Fernando de la Rua, midway through his term.