Argentina's Macri sides with taxi drivers against Uber

A vendor of caramel-coated peanuts walks among taxis parked in the middle of one of the main avenues of Buenos Aires, Argentina, Tuesday, April 12, 2016. Hundreds of taxi drivers paralyzed parts of the capital during rush hour to protest Uber launching its service on Tuesday in defiance of local authorities. (AP Photo/Victor R. Caivano) (The Associated Press)

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Taxi drivers block a main avenue to protest Uber in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Tuesday, April 12, 2016. Hundreds of taxi drivers paralyzed parts of the capital during rush hour to protest Uber launching its service on Tuesday in defiance of local authorities. (AP Photo/Victor R. Caivano) (The Associated Press)

A man rides his bicycle past taxis blocking a main avenue in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Tuesday, April 12, 2016. Hundreds of taxi drivers paralyzed parts of the capital during rush hour to protest Uber launching its service on Tuesday in defiance of local authorities. (AP Photo/Victor R. Caivano) (The Associated Press)

BUENOS AIRES, Argentina – Argentine President Mauricio Macri is siding with Buenos Aires taxi drivers in a dispute against Uber.

Macri said Thursday that he values the stance that city officials have taken in defending cabbies. He says they're an important symbol of the city and Argentina as a whole.

A court ordered city authorities on Wednesday to take steps to suspend Uber's operation in Argentina's capital, a day after the launch of the ride-sharing app.

The ruling came in an appeal by unions representing cabbies who say Uber is operating illegally and threatens their livelihood.

The Buenos Aires mayor's office has said Uber is not authorized to operate yet because it fails to meet requirements for transporting passengers.

Uber Argentina says it is operating normally under the law.