Anti-government protesters gather in Argentina

Thousands of people have taken to the streets of Argentina’s capital, Buenos Aires, in protest at the government of Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner. Opposition activists used social networks to mobilise the march, which they said was one of the biggest anti-government protests in a decade, the BBC reported. Protesters in neighborhoods throughout Buenos Aires waved signs demanding freedom, transparency and an end to crime and corruption. A spokesman for the city’s Justice and Security Ministry estimated 700,000 people were rallying in the capital. Those gathered said they were angry at rising inflation, high levels of crime and high-profile corruption cases. President Fernandez was re-elected by a landslide to a second term in 2011. Her approval ratings have since dropped and protests against some of her policies have mounted. Official figures say inflation is at 12%, but analysts say it is probably much higher. The International Monetary Fund warned Argentina in September that unless it produced reliable growth and inflation data by December, it could face sanctions. A similar, smaller protest was staged just two months ago.