BUENOS AIRES, Argentina (AP) - A congressional leader took over as the fourth president in two weeks Monday as Argentina struggled with a deep economic and political crisis. Tempers flared earlier as angry Argentines lined up at banks and riot police cordoned off Government Palace.
House leader Eduardo Camano - who was likely to lead the executive branch only for a matter of hours - became the next in line of succession after Adolfo Rodriguez Saa ditched his week-old caretaker presidency on Sunday, complaining that powerful members of his Peronist Party had let his government crumble as he tried to confront a devastating financial crisis.
A Peronist political leader, Buenos Aires provincial Sen. Eduardo Duhalde, was heavily favored by lawmakers of absence citing unspecified health reasons, authorities said.
Lawmakers also signaled Monday that they wanted to scrap a scheduled March election and let Duhalde complete de la Rua's term ending in 2003.
Camano's position was more a formality while Congress finds a permanent successor for Rodriguez Saa.
In an angry departure speech Sunday night, Rodriguez Saa said he was left out in the cold by fellow political bosses but wouldn't be the one to defy an angry public that has rioted over a banking freeze and failed austerity measures.
Meanwhile, authorities bolstered security ahead of New Year's celebrations.
Interior Minister Rodolfo Gabrielli, one of the last aides to Rodriguez Saa still working, told reporters that banks had complied with the president's last orders to more than double the hours they were open Monday to the public. The step was taken to avoid a repeat of the long lines by Argentines anxious to withdraw what cash they could amid a partial banking freeze.
The collapse of the latest government signaled the probable demise of plans by Rodriguez Saa for a parallel currency, the Argentino, which was intended to help put money in the hands of cash-hungry Argentines.