Argentines have staged nationwide rallies to protest government-imposed banking restrictions as well as proposed cuts in spending they say will affect health care and education.

Protesters blocked streets and banged pots and pans Wednesday as they vented their frustrations over the deteriorating economic situation.

Depositors are seeking to access accounts that the government of then-President Fernando de la Rua ordered frozen in December to prevent a massive flight of capital out of the country. Discontent over the policy forced President de la Rua from office.

The financially-troubled nation has been in recession nearly four years and defaulted on $141 billion in public debt. Unemployment is estimated to be around 20 percent. New President Eduardo Duhalde recently devalued the peso in a bid to revive the economy.

In a related development, the Bush administration has announced Argentines will now be required to obtain visas before visiting the United States. The new policy takes effect Thursday.

A State Department spokesman says some officials are concerned that Argentina's severe economic crisis may prompt some of its nationals to remain in the United States illegally.

Some information for this report provided by AP, AFP, DPA and Reuters.

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