Moscow Expresses Hope That Civil Peace Will Return To Argentina Soon

In Moscow hope is being expressed that civil peace will soon be restored in Argentina and a way out will be found of its prolonged social and economic crisis. Alexander Yakovenko, official foreign ministry representative, made a statement to this effect. "The Russian Federation is acting together with other members from international organisations, including as part of the "group of eight" countries, has offered and is continuing to offer support for the creation of the necessary external conditions for getting the internal situation in Argentina back to normal", Yakovenko stated. According to incoming reports, in connection with the sharp deterioration in the population's material situation and an increased exacerbation in the financial and economic crisis, mass public disorder has broken out in Argentina accompanied by looting in the capital and a number of other large towns. On 19th December the President of the Republic Fernando de la Rua announced a state of emergency in the country and sacked the government.