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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
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| Rival demos in Argentine farm row | Rival demos in Argentine farm row |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Argentine farmers and government supporters have held rival rallies in the long-running dispute over tax increases on agricultural exports. | Argentine farmers and government supporters have held rival rallies in the long-running dispute over tax increases on agricultural exports. |
| More than 200,000 people took to the streets in Buenos Aires, on the eve of a vote on the increases in the Senate. | More than 200,000 people took to the streets in Buenos Aires, on the eve of a vote on the increases in the Senate. |
| Farmers say the taxes are crippling but the government says they are affordable and are needed to help fight poverty. | Farmers say the taxes are crippling but the government says they are affordable and are needed to help fight poverty. |
| Argentina is a major producer of soya, grains and beef which fetch high prices on international markets. | Argentina is a major producer of soya, grains and beef which fetch high prices on international markets. |
| Congress, the lower house, has already approved the increases in export taxes on soy and other grains, and the vote in the upper house, the Senate, looks like being close. | Congress, the lower house, has already approved the increases in export taxes on soy and other grains, and the vote in the upper house, the Senate, looks like being close. |
| Pressure mounting | Pressure mounting |
| On Tuesday, tens of thousands of supporters of President Cristina Fernandez and reportedly some 200,000 anti-government protesters poured into their rival demonstrations carrying banners and flags and banging drums. | On Tuesday, tens of thousands of supporters of President Cristina Fernandez and reportedly some 200,000 anti-government protesters poured into their rival demonstrations carrying banners and flags and banging drums. |
| Supporters on both sides of the argument turned out in force | |
| The BBC's Daniel Schweimler, in Buenos Aires, says both demonstrations were shows of strength ahead of Wednesday's Senate vote - for which pressure is mounting on a handful of undecided senators. | The BBC's Daniel Schweimler, in Buenos Aires, says both demonstrations were shows of strength ahead of Wednesday's Senate vote - for which pressure is mounting on a handful of undecided senators. |
| Whichever way it goes, says our correspondent, the four-month-long dispute is likely to continue as the two sides become increasingly entrenched and the Argentine people increasingly divided. | Whichever way it goes, says our correspondent, the four-month-long dispute is likely to continue as the two sides become increasingly entrenched and the Argentine people increasingly divided. |
| That will inevitably affect supplies and prices of soya, grains and beef in both Argentina and beyond, he adds, but with each day that passes a resolution seems to be moving further away. | That will inevitably affect supplies and prices of soya, grains and beef in both Argentina and beyond, he adds, but with each day that passes a resolution seems to be moving further away. |
| I believe wealth has to be distributed among everyone Amelia QueiroPro-government supporter | |
| "This is about showing the will of the people, so the provincial representatives vote and decide according to the interests⦠of the people who elected them," said Hugo Biolcati, vice-president of the Argentine Rural Society (SRA). | "This is about showing the will of the people, so the provincial representatives vote and decide according to the interests⦠of the people who elected them," said Hugo Biolcati, vice-president of the Argentine Rural Society (SRA). |
| Supporters of the pro-government counter-demonstration in front of Congress included members of trade unions and leftist groups from poor city suburbs, Reuters news agency reported. | Supporters of the pro-government counter-demonstration in front of Congress included members of trade unions and leftist groups from poor city suburbs, Reuters news agency reported. |
| Speaking to crowds which the government estimated at some 100,000, Nestor Kirchner, former president and husband of Argentina's current leader, called the farm leaders "destabilisers". | Speaking to crowds which the government estimated at some 100,000, Nestor Kirchner, former president and husband of Argentina's current leader, called the farm leaders "destabilisers". |
| He accused the farmers of trying to undermine the current administration and said both sides must accept the result of the Senate vote. | He accused the farmers of trying to undermine the current administration and said both sides must accept the result of the Senate vote. |
| Amelia Queiro, a lawyer at the rally, said: "I believe wealth has to be distributed among everyone⦠(The farmers) are putting the whole country in danger when they are a minority that wants to protect its privileges." | Amelia Queiro, a lawyer at the rally, said: "I believe wealth has to be distributed among everyone⦠(The farmers) are putting the whole country in danger when they are a minority that wants to protect its privileges." |
| Many Buenos Aires offices and schools closed early so that people could get home before roads were blocked for the rallies. | Many Buenos Aires offices and schools closed early so that people could get home before roads were blocked for the rallies. |