Argentine pres. blames farmers for smoke

BUENOS AIRES, April 18 (UPI) -- Argentine President Cristina Kirchner said farmers were responsible for massive brushfires that left the capital blanketed in smoke.

A thick layer of smoke covered Buenos Aires Thursday and forced the cancellation of some flights, La Nacion reported.

Farmers denied the allegations by Kirchner and claimed the president was trying to distract Argentines from the recent row between the government and farmers over export taxes on some farm goods.

Argentine farmers this month called off three weeks of protests that crippled the country's agricultural sector.