BUENOS AIRES, June 14 (Xinhua) -- Argentina's truckers and farmers protesting the government's tax increase for grain exports clashed with military police on Saturday as the authorities were trying to break up their road blockade.

    Local TV images showed that the demonstrators scuffled with military police who were trying to clear roads to allow trucks with food and other goods aboard to pass.

    The police also briefly detained some 20 demonstrators including a leader of the farmer's union.

    Interior Minister Florencio Randazzo rebutted accusations that the military police had been too rough with the protesters.

    "The police did not have weapons or tear gas, they simply wanted to move (protesters) off the highway," he told local television.

    Argentina's official news agency Telam reported Saturday that federal judge Guillermo Quadrini had issued an order to clear the road of protesters.

    Argentine President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner signed a decree on March 11 to raise taxes on grain exports in response to domestic prices rise in an effort to tame inflation by restricting exports and drive down domestic prices.

    But the measure has met strong opposition from farmers, who have staged protests, suspended grain shipments for dozens of days, and set up blocks on roads, causing food shortages in some cities including the country's capital.

    It also caused a standoff between the government and truckers, many of whom have been idled by the farmers' strike. Thus truckers have also staged several strikes to press the government to reach a deal with farmers.