Argentine union protest brings country to a halt

A one-day strike by Argentina's trade unions brought the country to a near-standstill. Although the military government declared the stoppage illegal, public transport was paralyzed, nearly all shops were closed, and only a trickle of people turned up for work. The Interior Ministry said 85 percent of its employees had stayed away from work. The 24-hour strike was called by the General Confederation of Labor to demand better pay and to protest the government's economic policies.