Argentina's President Milei pelted with rocks at Buenos Aires district rally

Argentina's President Javier Milei had to cut a campaign event short on Wednesday after protesters threw rocks and other objects at the convoy in which he was travelling.

The libertarian former TV pundit was unharmed in the incident, which took place in Lomas de Zamora, a Buenos Aires district that is a historic stronghold of the country's left-wing opposition.

The rock-throwing came as Milei's sister, who is also his chief of staff, is embroiled in a case of alleged bribery at Argentina's agency for the disabled.

As Milei, his sister Karina and other members of his inner circle were greeting crowds from the back of a pick-up truck, rocks and bottles were thrown in their direction, with hecklers shouting "Out with Milei!"

Security agents scrambled into action, whisking Milei and his entourage into a secure vehicle, which quickly took them out of the area.

Hours later, he posted on X blaming the attack on followers of his political opponent, former President Cristina Fernández de Kirchner.

"Kirchnerism never again!" he wrote, using the term for her left-wing brand of politics.

Security Minister Patricia Bullrich also accused her movement of "putting the president and the people and families who went to accompany him at risk."

The incident occurred shortly before local elections in Buenos Aires on 7 September, which will be followed by midterm elections on 26 October.

Both votes are viewed as an important test for Milei, whose Liberty Advances party holds a minority in Congress.

The Argentinian leader hopes to expand his government's power through the ballot box, with the aim of fighting off opposition attempts to block his significant spending cuts.

Since assuming office in December 2023, Milei has set about drastically reducing state expenditure in a bid to drive down inflation.