The pickets were originally encouraged by the government as part of an effort to pressure Uruguay to relocate or shut its eucalyptus pulp mill across the river.

Since the protests began in 2006, much political water has flowed under the bridge where pickets stand vigil blocking access to Uruguay and back.

First, Argentina lost its case at the International Court in The Hague, which in April rejected claims the pulp mill polluted the river.

Then Uruguay acquired a new president, Jose Mujica, with revolutionary credentials who disarmed Buenos Aires' strident campaign. Soon after his inauguration in March the two presidents were set on a course of friendship and shared cultural values.

The pickets were forgotten but the picket leaders didn't abandon their cause and vowed to fight on for a greater say in the running of the Uruguayan pulp mill.

Argentina and Uruguay have already agreed that Argentine inspectors can visit the mill to make sure it is run on an environmentally sound basis.

The pickets, bitterly opposed to the mill, want to do this their own way.

A federal judge this week gave the go-ahead for civil and criminal charges to be brought against about 20 picket leaders.

The pulp mill row has been adopted by environmental campaign groups as a major cause and observers see no early solution in sight. Residents of the Argentine border town of Gualeguaychu told the media they were tired of the pickets and wanted the bridge opened.

At present, travelers between the two sides have to use ferries to cross the river, an expensive and time-consuming process.

Two weeks ago 6,000 residents from Gualeguaychu launched a petition requesting the lifting of the blockade or the issue of a continuing blockade to be put to vote.

Meanwhile, Uruguayan authorities have hardened their position on compromises being debated on the Argentine side. The mayor of the Uruguayan city of Fray Bentos, across from Gualeguaychu, warned he couldn't accept a temporary lifting of the blockade or allow environmental monitoring inside the pulp mill.

The pulp mill was built by the Finnish Botnia company, which claims the technology used in the plant doesn't pollute the river. Independent scientists have supported Botnia's position.

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