Argentina: Police quell protests as demonstrations increase

The situation in Argentina is quickly turning out of control. Rioters and looters swarmed the streets of Buenos Aires Thursday morning and the police used tear gas to disperse the crowd after the suspension of constitutional rights was ordered. The State of Siege gave the Government a wide margin to quell the violence.

Lootings went ahead on Thursday setting fire shops and ransacking supermarkets in the suburbs of Buenos Aires. In the center of the city, many people got together spontaneously beating pots and pans, honking horns to force resignation of President De la Rua. The number of people killed in the riots went up to 16 this morning, after clashes in Santa Fe Province were reported.

In the political front, rumors about a full cabinet resignation are being heard, at the time the Congress announced a Legislative Assembly this afternoon. On the other hand, former powerful Minister of Treasury, Domingo Cavallo, tried to leave the country, but was detained by the justice to declare on the illegal sale of weapons to Croatia and Equator trial.

There is still no official confirmation on cabinet resignations as official President spokesman resigned to his post today. Late in the afternoon will became clear the institutional way out to an economic crisis, which turned into a political disaster in the last hours.

Hernan Etchaleco Pravda.Ru Argentina