ARGENTINIAN truckers have continued to block many of the countries highways as part of action during an indefinite strike over fuel shortages and rising costs. 

Large convoys of lorries dominated the roads in the provinces of Buenos Aires, Neuquen, Rio Negro, La Pampa, Santa Fe, Cordoba, Tucuman, Chaco, Corrientes, Misiones and Formosa on Thursday. 

Negotiations with the government collapsed on Wednesday as they failed to avert the strike called by the National Union of Carriers and Allied Workers of the Argentine Republic, United Carriers of Argentina and the Single Union of Port Administration Workers.

Union leaders insisted there were no talks because the Transport Minister Alexis Guerrera did not meet with them as planned. 

But the Transport Ministry blamed the unions, saying they could not agree among themselves who was going to attend.

Demand for diesels has rocketed in recent months in part due to an economic recovery in the mining and transport industries. 

However oil companies are reluctant to import diesel because they are unable to sell it at cost price due to government restrictions.  Fuel imports are also restricted by a shortage of foreign currency. 

Truckers are demanding a regularisation of diesel supply and increased wages.