By Stephen Cviic BBC correspondent in Buenos Aires

Tens of thousands of people across Argentina have taken part in a day of protest against the government's handling of the economic crisis - the worst in the country's history.

There were road blocks across main access roads for much of the working day, and in the evening several thousand people gathered for a demonstration outside the presidential palace in the capital, Buenos Aires.

President Duhalde is pushing ahead with unpopular spending cuts

The day of action was called by the third largest and most left-wing of the country's union federations, the CTA.

They succeeded in organising a truly nationwide protest, with marches, demonstrations, stoppages and above all road blocks in virtually all provinces.

Little violence was reported, apart from the throwing of a Molotov cocktail at a government building in the province of Entre Rios.

Burning tyres

Many health workers and teachers stayed at home, although adherence to the strike by these groups was by no means total, and the larger Peronist unions largely stayed out of the strike.

The protest may have been widespread and the burning tyres at road blocks eye-catching, but the demonstrations were hardly massive shows of strength.

The crowd which gathered outside Congress in Buenos Aires during the afternoon was only a few thousand strong, perhaps a reflection of the hopelessness which many people feel in the face of Argentina's overwhelming problems.

Half the population is living in poverty, unemployment is at record levels and there is real hunger in the provinces.

Division

The protestors all agree on what they do not like - corrupt, old-style politicians, spending cuts and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) - but they are divided on what should be done next.

Some want early elections - others say there is no point since there are no credible politicians left.

In the meantime, President Eduardo Duhalde believes the only thing he can do is to push through the unpopular spending cuts and changes to the law which the International Monetary Fund is demanding.

Whether he can keep enough support among his fellow politicians to achieve these things is another matter.