Argentina: Smoke worsens in Buenos Aires

BUENOS AIRES, April 19 (UPI) -- Thick, cough-inducing smoke worsened in Buenos Aires, prompting officials to close airports and major roadways, officials said.

The Argentine government said it would prosecute those found to be responsible for the fires near the capital blamed for the smoke, La Nacion reported Saturday.

Argentine President Cristina Kirchner said this week that farmers were responsible for massive brushfires that left the capital covered in smoke.

Farmers denied the allegations and claimed Kirchner 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.