Argentina’s largest cities ground to a halt Tuesday as transport unions went on strike, demanding tax cuts for low-income workers and putting the government on the defensive seven months out from general elections. An eerie quiet reigned over Buenos Aires as buses, trains and subways began a 24-hour shutdown at midnight, emptying the streets in this city of three million people and forcing many businesses to remain closed. Several major regional airlines cancelled all flights to and from Argentina for the day, including LAN of Chile and TAM in Brazil. The strike, called by unions opposed to President Cristina Kirchner, is the fourth major stoppage of her administration, which wraps up this year after October 25 elections.

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