Protesters target Argentine capital

Protesters block a bridge in Argentina protest

Two days of protests in Argentina over the country's economic plight culminate on Tuesday with a march to the national Congress in Buenos Aires.

The protests have been led by groups of unemployed, and trade unions including state employees and teachers.

Poor people... are persecuted for demanding work, and rich people... are applauded for fleeing from justice

Cardinal Jorge Bergoglio

On Tuesday, protesters blocked main roads throughout Argentina, and held meetings in several provincial capitals.

Up to 100,000 Argentines also gathered at the church of San Cayetano in Buenos Aires on Tuesday to pray for jobs.

Speaking at the church dedicated to San Cayetano, the patron saint of work and bread, Cardinal Jorge Bergoglio spoke of the contrast between "poor people who are persecuted for demanding work, and rich people who are applauded for fleeing from justice."

One of the protest organisers, Luis D'Elia, said: "all our roadblocks will be peaceful... we hope they will be massively supported, but will offer alternative routes."

The demonstrators are protesting at a cut of 13% in public sector wages and in pension payments which the government of Fernando de la Rua has proposed.

'Vital' cuts

The austerity measures were approved by the Argentine senate late on Monday.

Debt repayments

The faithful pray for work in Buenos Aires

The government says these cuts are vital if Argentina is to balance its books and not default on repayments of its US$128bn foreign debt.

Analysts fear that if Argentina could not meet its international commitments, there would be a widespread crisis of confidence in Latin American economies.

The International Monetary Fund has promised US$1.2bn in aid to Argentina, but this has not so far become available to Mr de la Rua's struggling administration.

Official unemployment figures for Argentina, Latin America's third largest economy, show that more than 16% are out of work.