Argentina's Newly-Appointed Cabinet Tenders Resignation

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Sunday, December 30, 2001

Argentina's Newly-Appointed Cabinet Tenders Resignation

The entire cabinet of interim President Adolfo Rodriguez Saa offered its resignation on Saturday following massive street protests in Buenos Aires in the early hours of this morning, which left dozens of people wounded or arrested.

In an official statement issued here on Saturday, Rodriguez Saa, who swore in the new cabinet last Sunday after widespread social unrest led to the downfall of Fernando de la Rua on December 20, said he had not decided whether to accept the resignation, and deplored the violence that wracked the capital overnight.

"I deeply deplore the incidents of violence overnight Friday to Saturday," he said. "I call on all Argentines to maintain peace."

Thousands of Argentinians took to the streets overnight to protest banking curbs and alleged government corruption. But the demonstrations turned violent and left a dozen policemen injured and 33 people arrested.

Just hours after the protest, Carlos Grosso, a chief presidential aide, submitted his resignation to President Rodriguez Saa. The president has accepted the resignation, according to the secretary-general of the republic's presidency, Luis Lusquinos.

Rodriguez Saa, a 54-year-old lawyer, took office last Sunday and was expected to rule the troubled Latin American country until new presidential elections are held next March. He promised to take measures to stop the country 's economic recession including issuing a third currency called Argentino.

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