STORY: Argentina's Vice President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner asked her supporters to halt a mass protest of thousands of people on Saturday, while defending their right to demonstrate.

After prosecutors requested a 12-year prison sentence for the leader for alleged corruption.

In a tense day, her supporters thronged the streets to defend her, and two were detained in clashes that injured seven police officers

Fernandez de Kirchner gave a brief speech in front of her house.

She stated, "In a democracy, the right to freedom of expression is fundamental," before thanking her defenders and asking them to go and get some rest.

"It’s been a long day," she said.

Fernandez de Kirchner leads the most hardline wing of the center-left Peronist coalition that has governed Argentina since the end of 2019.

Prosecutors accuse her of defrauding the state and involvement in a scheme to divert public funds while president between 2007 and 2015.

The verdict and any potential sentence will be decided by a judge, which could take months.

Though Fernandez de Kirchner could appeal any decision, possibly delaying a final verdict for years.