Brazilian police cracked down on striking truck drivers in Sunday, arresting protesters and putting an end to the blockade of roads in all States, except two, after the demonstrations took a violent form and slowed down the supply of food in the largest economy in Latin America.

By the evening of Sunday the road was partially blocked only in 12 locations across the country, compared with 52 points barrier on Saturday, said police on the 12th day of strikes, caused by the rising cost of transportation.

Authorities in the southern state of Rio Grande do Sul detained eight people and sent the police special forces in some regions, ending the blockade of roads in the state.

Almost two weeks of protests have slowed the delivery of grain, led to the closure of enterprises for the processing of meat and empty grocery stores.

Two of the remaining congestion of the main highway are in the main the state of production of soybean in Brazil's Mato Grosso, the other 10 in the southern state of Santa Catarina, where protesters periodically block the path to the main port for the export of poultry itajaí.

The Federal government has promised to increase police presence on the blocked highway and end the blockade. Last week the police have imposed high fines against those who illegally blocked the roads.

The leaders of the protests, said that the government had not yet responded adequately to their concerns about the high cost of fuel and transportation.

The main ports of export of soybean in the country Paranagua and Rio Grande warned that dwindling stocks of soybeans in the ports can affect the export, if the blockade of roads will continue.

The main port for the export of grain Santos worked as usual in the past week, despite the fact that the protesters main highway in Sao Paulo, where the port is located.