The soaring price of tortillas and other basic foods has brought thousands onto the streets in Mexico and put renewed pressure on the conservative government. Tortillas, which are a staple of the Mexican diet, shot by 25 percent in January alone.

“The politicians can defend the rise in taxes on cigarettes and drink”, said one woman taking part in a protest. “But they can’t defend the increase in the price of corn – that’s the main food for Mexicans. “

The government says it has reached an agreement with producers and suppliers to reverse the price hike but many people.

“Poor people like me… some days we have work, some days not. Tortillas are expensive…we don’t have enough money,” another woman said.

Soaring demand for corn, from which tortillas are made, has pushed prices to their highest level in ten years. The grain is being used in America to make ethanol – an alternative to oil-based fuel.

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