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QUITO, April 11 (Reuters) - Farmers blocked main roads in Ecuador Tuesday to protest the proposed privatization of their social security system and adoption of the dollar as the nation's currency which they said would lead to rising costs.
It was the second day of protests in this Andean country of 12.4 million people, but no clashes between demonstrators and police busy dismantling the barriers have been reported.
To haul Ecuador out of its worst economic crisis in decades President Gustavo Noboa has ordered the injection of dollars into the economy to replace the national currency, the sucre, and is considering privatizing the Farm Social Security (SSC) system.
Farmers nationwide are demonstrating against the moves. They are also demanding a freeze on utility rates and freedom for 117 soldiers in jail on charges of subordination after leading an uprising on Jan. 21 that toppled former President Jamil Mahuad, author of the dollarization plan.
``If the government insists on continuing with the privatization of social security and dollarization there is no alternative but to follow Mahuad's path, as in step down,'' Cesar Cabrera, president of the National Farm Security Affiliates Confederation, said in a communique.
``These actions are the beginning of future movement that will end with the installation of a new democratic, patriotic government,'' said Cabrera.