MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Argentine teachers clash with police

Argentina's main teachers' union called for a one-day national strike next week after protesting colleagues seeking higher pay clashed with riot police in two provinces Wednesday

Video broadcast on Todo Noticias showed at least two injured people after police clashed with teachers trying to block a highway leading to a tourist area in the southwestern province of Neuquen ahead of the Easter holiday. TV video showed the demonstrators throwing rocks and punching police, who responded with tear gas and water cannons during the protest about 720 miles southwest of Buenos Aires. In the northern province of Salta, police reportedly fired rubber bullets at teachers who tried to keep local lawmakers from leaving the legislature after they voted to renegotiate salaries only after the educators end a six-week work stoppage. Union president Hugo Yasky later called on teachers nationwide to strike Monday to protest the violence and pressure the government for higher wages. Teachers complain that two years of inflation have eroded their paychecks and call offers to raise wages 10 percent insufficient.