BUENOS AIRES, Argentina (AFP) — Workers in Argentina boycotted shops and stayed home from work yesterday, as part of general strike against skyrocketing inflation and soaring crime under the government of President Cristina Kirchner.

Participation in the work stoppage was uneven, with some department stores, restaurants, businesses and schools open in Buenos Aires and in Rosario, Argentina’s third largest city, despite the difficult commute.

Kirchner’s centre-left government is being blamed for an annual inflation rate estimated by independent economists at over 30 per cent. In addition, crime is seen as a major concern by the population.

Buses, commuter trains and most metro lines were shut down by the 24-hour walkout, while airlines were forced to cancel flights.

Meanwhile, about half of stores in the capital were open, but were emptier than usual, and road and foot were lighter even than on a typical Sunday.

Gas stations closed, and radical leftist youths formed pickets on the main access route to Buenos Aires from the early morning.

The roadblocks were later lifted, but Hugo Moyano, a truckers’ union leader and one of the main organisers of the protest, cheered the “high level of participation” in the strike.

But many people streamed to work on foot or took taxis, which were doing a booming business.

Kirchner’s chief of staff, Jorge Capitanich, compared the strikers’ strategy to a medieval siege, saying there was “no place for barbarism” in Argentina.

Even so, the government said it stood by the public’s right to peacefully express its displeasure.

Earlier this month, a year-long public safety emergency was declared in Buenos Aires after a spate of violent robberies and assaults sparked a wave of vigilante action.

The last general strike called by unions in Argentina took place in November 2012, and, like this one, partially paralysed the country.