Uruguay is accusing Argentinan authorities of "passivity" towards the protesters, and says Buenos Aires is using the blocks "to put extreme pressure on Uruguay to stop the construction of a factory".

Argentina had itself turned to the UN court in May, asking it to halt the mill project on the grounds that it violated a bilateral water deal because of heavy pollution.

Argentina on Monday said the question of the roadblocks was outside The Hague court's jurisdiction.

Since last month, Argentine environmentalists have been blocking access to Uruguay because of concerns that pollution caused by the mill would devastate livelihoods along waterways in the area.

The roads and bridges over the river have been the scenes of demonstrations and blockades for months by determined environmentalists and locals.

Some 22 percent of Uruguayan imports stem from Argentina, and Montevideo has argued that the protests are costing it millions of dollars.

Related Links
International Court of Justice
Water, Water Everywhere and Not A Drop To Drink...